THE FORMATION OP VARIETIES. Ill 



placed under domestication. The phenomena of di- 

 vergence of character, or of disproportionate Rever- 

 sion, whilst complicating the problem greatly, afford, 

 however, proof stronger, and more conclusive, than 

 would be available, were full and concurrent reversion, 

 the unvarying feature, under domestication. 



That physiological good, does, as a general rule 

 attend the improvement of animals and plants under 

 domestication, may be shown. Darwin says (p. 212, 

 Vol. ii, Animals and Plants, &c): 



"Domestication, as a general rule, increases the 

 prolificness of animals and plants." 



As we shall see, increase of prolificness, or of fertil- 

 ity, is the principal test of an improved, physiological 

 state. 



Instead of all the parts of the organization of an ani- 

 mal or plant being simultaneously and proportionately 

 developed, under domestication, Man, when he has 

 utility for his guide, preserves and accumulates those 

 parts only, which he values, and which are useful to 

 him, for some special purpose of his own. In species, 

 where man's fancy, or amusement, comes into play, he 

 develops but one of the varying parts, in each variety ; 

 sacrificing, and subordinating the other parts, in the 

 same variety, to the end he has in view. In some 

 species, Man looks to the improvement of one or two 

 characters only, in the individuals. In other species, 

 while he develops all of the characters, he does what is 

 most injurious to the individual organisms ; he suffers 

 those characters to be developed, only, each in a differ- 

 ent variety. Each individual of a species, Darwin, in 



