THE CROSSING, &C, Or CATTLE, ET AL. 315 



covering; and the flesh thereon, it has been a point, to 

 reduce to a minimum. The animals are even placed 

 upon a table, as mentioned below by Darwin; and, it 

 is thus ascertained, how far a " saving " may be had, 

 in the internal organs; and, how far the fat (which is 

 tissue which has undergone a retrograde metamorpho- 

 sis) may be extended. These things ascertained; the 

 relatives of those animals esteemed worthy of com- 

 mendation, are interbred ; and (some of), the results de- 

 sired, thereby attained — and some, results, too, which 

 are not desired. 



Darwin says (p. 33, Origin of Species): 



"Sheep are placed on a table, and are studied, like a 

 picture by a connoisseur; this is done three times, at 

 intervals of months, arid the sheep are each time 

 marked and classed, so that the very best may ulti- 

 mately be selected for breeding." 



Even Darwin sees that the reduction of characters 

 is injurious; but he does not extend the induction, — 

 doubtless, because he perceived that, if he did, his 

 "great law of nature" would lose in dignity, by thus 

 becoming less mysterious and inscrutable. 



" Youatt believes," says he (p. 293, Vol. ii, Animals 

 and Plants, &c), "that the reduction of bone, in some 

 of our Sheep, has already been carried so far that it 

 entails great delicacy of constitution." 



The reason, for instance, that Merinoes have a ten- 

 dency to barrenness, is because, among other defects, 

 their legs are small in the bone, their breasts and backs 

 are narrow, and their sides are somewhat flat; and 

 because their foreheads are low, and there is under 



