286 THE CROSSING, 4C, OF PIGS. 



to the advanced, exclusive improvement of other char- 

 acters, but is an absolute reduction. The more the 

 trunk is developed, the further, absolutely, are the legs, 

 tusks, hair, bristles, &c, reduced. Therefore, the greater 

 the improvement, the greater the evils of close-inter- 

 breeding. For, the point is made, by breeders, to carry 

 the reduction of the legs, tusks, hair, snout, &c, as far 

 as is compatible with the continued existence of the 

 animal. 



Although the characters, mentioned as reduced, are 

 reduced in all of the highly improved individuals and 

 breeds, yet the very capacity to discriminate between 

 the different breeds, and between different individuals 

 of the same breed, shows, that the characters have not 

 all been reduced in the same degrees. The reduction, 

 in one character, has not, in one breed, or in one indi- 

 vidual, been so great, as it has been in another breed, 

 or other individual ; and, where one individual, or 

 breed, is much reduced in one character, and little re- 

 duced in another character, the converse may obtain, 

 in other breeds, or in the other individuals. So, it is 

 clear, that some gain, to offspring, in physiological^ 

 integrity is possible, when two breeds, or distant indi- 

 viduals, are crossed. 



Where individuals fail to breed, owing to their dis- 

 proportionate development, the impotence is not abso- 

 lute. Those very individuals will be quite prolific, when 

 paired with individuals of dissimilar development. The 

 reason is, a certain number and proportion of charac- 

 ters are required, in the parent, for reproduction. If 

 an individual falls short of the required number and 



