CHAPTER VII. 



Evils caused by a Departure from the Original Type of 

 a Species ; and Good occasioned by a Return to such 

 Original Type : or, Crossing and Close-Interbreed- 

 ing. . 



The principle of Reversion implies, that all the posi- 

 tive characters, of any given species, were originally, 

 fully and proportionately developed, in each member of 

 such species, and that such type alone is perfect, physi- 

 ologically, as well as anatomically. Hence, it follows, 

 that any modification of such type, must be injurious. 

 It also follows, that the physiological state, of individ- 

 uals, previous to their developing variations under do- 

 mestication, should be a defective one, owing to the 

 then absence or reduction, in them, of the characters, 

 which they subsequently develop, and which are as- 

 sumed to be essentially necessary to their physiological 

 as well as structural integrity. It equally follows that, in 

 proportion as such individuals regain these lost or reduced 

 characters, should there be an abatement of the physi- 

 ological evil occasioned by such loss or reduction ; and 

 it follows that, when all the positive variation possible 

 for an individual of a given species, has been effected, 

 there should exist a perfect, physiological condition in 

 such individual. 



To this, it may be answered, that such results are 

 (194) 



