ET AL. 321 



but the development of which is necessary to fertility 

 and vigor. 



"In 1791," says Darwin (p. 126, Vol. ii, Animals and 

 Plants, &c), " a ram-lamb was born, in Massachusetts, 

 having short, crooked legs, and long back, like a turn- 

 spit dog. From this one lamb, the otter, or Ancon 

 Semi«monstrous breed, was raised. As these sheep 

 could not leap over the fences, it was thought, they 

 would be valuable," and it was deemed desirable to 

 increase their number indefinitely. 



But, this semi-monstrosity, — as it was so violative of 

 the true proportion of the characters of its species, — 

 could not but inevitably fall a victim to the extinction 

 occasioned, always, under like circumstances, by inter- 

 breeding. As a matter of fact, the breed, as Darwin 

 records, did become extinct. That their dispropor- 

 tion was the cause of the extinction of this "valuable" 

 breed, is clearly evidenced by the fact, that their ex- 

 tinction was not owing to their being supplanted by 

 crossing with other breeds, or to any failure of theirs 

 t.o transmit their peculiarities ; for, first, they were 

 esteemed " valuable," according to Darwin, and, there- 

 fore, pains must have been taken, as Darwin implies, 

 to preserve the type ; and, secondly, because they were 

 peculiarly capable of breeding true to their kind, so 

 far as they were capable of breeding at all ; for Dar- 

 win says : 



" These sheep are (were) remarkable from transmit- 

 ting their character so truly that Col. Humphreys never 

 heard of ' but one questionable case ' of an Ancon ram, 

 and ewe, not producing Ancon offspring," and " when 

 they crossed with other breeds, the offspring, with rare 

 28 



