CHAPTER VI. 

 The Several Processes of Formation of Varieties. 



In the fourth Chapter, we alleged that there is but 

 one, normal coordination of characters, in each spe- 

 cies, — a coordination comprising all of the positive 

 characters of the given species ; and we asserted, and 

 promised to prove, that the impaired coordination in 

 individuals, consequent upon the struggle for existence 

 under nature, is repaired and made perfect, in propor- 

 tion to the regain of the long-lost characters of the 

 species. The same principle was formulated, in the 

 last chapter, wherein it was asserted that the regain. of 

 that portion of the organic capital, once lost by the 

 respective species, is attended with physiological good. 



Were reversion, under domestication, or the re-devel- 

 opment of features once lost by an ancient progenitor, 

 proportionately displayed under domestication, in all of 

 the lost characters, the redemption of our promise, 

 were a brief task. But, the characters suppressed, or 

 reduced in the individuals, when taken from a state of 

 nature, are not concurrently re-developed. Quite fre- 

 quently, the re-development of a character, to the 

 neglect of other characters, impairs the harmony and 

 the coordination of the organization, to a greater 



degree, than existed before the animal or plant was 

 (170) 



