THE FORMATION OF VARIETIES. 181 



breeds. A great authority says, ' Fanciers do not, and 

 will not admire, a medium standard, that is, half and 

 half, which is neither here nor there, but admire 

 extremes.' " 



" Domesticated races differ much, in some one organ, 

 from the other races of the same species," * * 

 though "the remaining parts of the organization will 

 always be found in some degree different" (p. 150, 

 Origin of Species). 



Varieties, under domestication, "show adaptation to 

 his (man's) wants and pleasure " (p. 14, Vol. i, Animals 

 and Plants, &c). 



" Domesticated races of animals, and cultivated 

 races of plants, often exhibit an abnormal character, 

 as compared with natural species; for, they have been 

 modified, not for their own benefit, but for that of 

 man " (p. 14, Vol. i). 



Each individual Pigeon varies a little, in several 

 ways, from even the others of the same variety, or 

 sub-variety. Each differs, slightly, from the others of 

 the same variety, and, greatly, from others of the 

 other varieties, in the length, size, or number, of the 

 wing-feathers; in the length, size, or number of the 

 tail feathers; in the length, number, or size of the 

 primary wing-feathers; in the number, length, or 

 breadth of the ribs; in the size, and form of the body; 

 in the number, and size of the s'cutellse ; in the size of 

 the eye, and eyelids ; in the size, length, and thick- 

 ness of the feet and legs ; in the length, and size, and 

 breadth of the tongue and beak ; in the size, and 

 shape of the lower jaw; in the amount of wattle; in 

 the heaviness of the coating of feathers; in the size, 

 IB* 



