82 PHYSICAL INVESTIGATION. [PART 1. 



specially observed in domestic animals ; and though in most 

 cases of this kind there is only a disposition to propagate new 

 races, which soon disappears, 1 it may be owing partly to the 

 discontinuance of favourable circumstances, and partly to the 

 deficiency of individuals distinguished by similar characteristics 

 which can be paired, to fix the deviation as a permanent 

 character of a new race. That new races really originate in 

 this way is proved by many instances. One of the best known 

 examples of this kind is the so-called Otter- Sheep, bred from a 

 sheep of peculiarly long body and short legs, in Massachusetts 

 (1791), which propagated rapidly in North America, and the 

 breed was liked on account of their inability to surmount the 

 fences. 2 This race appears to be permanent, so that on being 

 crossed with the common sheep, the mongrel resembles either 

 one or the other race. 3 In a similar manner the uncloven 

 hoof has become hereditary in the Hungarian cattle. A 

 bull without horns in Paraguay produced only calves without 

 horns (Azara) ; a buck goat with cartilaginous prominent 

 nasal organs, transmitted these peculiarities to its offspring 

 (Pallas). Similar instances are found in Jarrold, Foissac, 

 Knight. 4 That temperament is equally transmissible is shown 

 in the docility, or restiveness, and biting and kicking propen- 

 sities, of horses. 



Still more important than the transmission of innate in- 

 dividual peculiarities, is the inheritance (by no means rare) of 

 such qualities which have only accidentally arisen. To this 

 belong the successful cases of acclimatization, which tell at first 

 much on the physical organism, whilst the succeeding genera- 

 tions find themselves as well off in their new home as their 

 parents in their old climates. At a height of 9,000 feet above 

 the level of the sea in Mexico, harriers were found useless, but 

 their offspring are now well fitted for coursing (Lyell). The 



1 Lucas (ii, 896) arrives at the conclusion, that the pecularities arising in 

 the course of time, are so much less permanent in proportion as they deviate 

 from the species, and have only lasted for a few generations, especially when 

 the favourable circumstances which gave rise to them cease to exist. 



'-' " Philos. Trans.," 1813. 



3 Bachman in Smith, " Unity of the hum. races," p. 310. 



4 " Philos. Transact., 1837." 



