404 LECTUEE XIV. 



these races had pai-tly arisen by the interference of man^ whilst 

 for the origin of species the direct interference of a creator was 

 assumed. 



" On comparing/' says Nathusius, " the existing forms of 

 domestic animals proper, we are met by a decided contrast : 

 we acknowledge races so far firmly established, when we find 

 a large number of individuals, representing by resemblance 

 and common characters definite groups, originally more or less 

 confined to certain localities, which have in historical times 

 remained unaltered. Such animals constitute natural, geogra- 

 phically established races. In contrast to them we have arti- 

 ficial or cultivated races. 



" By these we understand those domestic animals which are 

 cultivated and developed by the interference of the science of 

 rural economy. They owe their origin either to natural races 

 — to so-called inbreeding — by the coupling of such individuals 

 as are distinguished by some excellent qualities ; or by the cross- 

 ing of different natural races, in which the individual character 

 plays a more important part than the race-character. The 

 descent of the artificial races is thus of secondary importance ; 

 they have no natural home, but are dependent on the state of 

 rural economy. The term ' full blooded' is commonly considered 

 as equivalent to cultivated race; but the definition of this 

 word, now so much in use, based upon the notion of unity of 

 race, is erroneous. 



" Natural races must be characterised by zoological charac- 

 ters, though we must not forget that we have before us not 

 species, but varieties, and that sharply defined limits are not 

 applicable to transitional forms ; yet, such transitional forms are 

 always present ; for variableness conditions the notion of race." 

 (Within equally wide limits is the notion of species ; for varia- 

 tions, i.e. extraordinary forms, which are not constantly propa- 

 gated, occur also in species, — e. g. in fox, Cebus, lion, panther, 

 etc. — as well as in races.) 



" The assumption that all domestic animals proper, and 

 specially the natural races, are derived from this or that wild 

 original stock, neither is nor ever will be proved. Still the 

 assumption is considered so well founded, that we rarely hear 



