182 THE FORMATION OF VARIETIES. 



and shape of the sternum, and of the scapula ; and in 

 every detail of the internal organs, of the skeleton, 

 and of external adornment. 



The mode, in which Man gets such distinct varieties, 

 is by refusing to re-develop all of the characters, con- 

 currently; and, by pushing the re-development of one, 

 two, or but a few characters only, in any one variety. 



Under the heading of "Tendency in Man to carry 

 the practice of Selection to an extreme point" (p. 290, 

 Vol. ii), Darwin says : 



" It is an important principle that, in the process of 

 selection, man almost invariably wishes to go to an 

 extreme point (!) Thus, in useful qualities, there is no 

 limit to his desire to breed certain horses and dogs as 

 fleet as possible, and others as strong as possible ; cer- 

 tain kinds of sheep, for extreme fineness, and others, 

 for extreme length of wool ; and he wishes to produce 

 fruit, grain, tubers, and other useful parts of plants, as 

 large and excellent as possible. With animals, bred 

 for amusement, the same principle is even more power- 

 ful ; for fashion, as we see even in our dress, always 

 runs to extremes (!) This view has been expressly 

 admitted by fanciers. Instances were given in the 

 chapter on the Pigeon, but here is another: Mr. 

 Eaton, after describing a comparatively new variety, 

 namely, the Archangel, remarks, 'What fanciers intend 

 doing with this bird, 1 am at' a loss to know, whether 

 they intend to breed it down to the Tumbler's head 

 and beak, or carry it out to the Carrier's head and 

 beak; leaving it as they found it, is not progressing.' 

 Ferguson, speaking of Fowls, says, ' their peculiarities, 

 whatever they may be, must necessarily be fully de- 

 veloped ; a little peculiarity forms naught but ugliness, 

 seeing it violates the existing laws of symmetry.' So, 

 Mr. Brent, in discovering the merits of the sub-varie- 



