M 



212 



SELECTION 



Chap. XX. . 



closely resemble any 



dog now found in the countries 



whence they were brought. These changes have been effected 

 partly by crosses; but in every case the result has been 



governed by the s 

 reason to suppose 



selection. Nevertheless 



that man 



made the breeds exactly what they 



anally and methodically 

 now are. As our horses 

 became fleeter, and the country more cultivated and smoother 

 fleeter fox-hounds were desired and produced, but probably 

 without any one distinctly foreseeing what they would become. 

 Our pointers and setters, the latter almost certainly descended 

 from large spaniels, have been greatly modified in accordance 

 with fashion and the desire for increased speed. Wolves have 

 become extinct, deer have become rarer, bulls are no longer 

 baited, and the corresponding breeds of the dog have answered 



may feel almost sure that when for 



g 



But 



bulls were no longer baited, no man said 



to himself, I 



will now breed my dogs of smaller size, and thus create the 

 present race. As circumstances changed, men unconsciously 

 and slowly modified their course of selection. 



With race-horses selection for swiftness has been followed 



methodically, and our hor 



easily beat their pro 



genitors. The increased size and different appearance of the 

 English race-horse led a good observer in India to ask, " Could 



our race-horses, 

 tion of the Arab 



any 



in 



this 



year 



that they 



of 1856, looking at 

 the result 



of 



and the African mar 



This change has, it is probable, 

 been largely effected through unconscious selection, that is, by 



in each 



general wish to breed as fine horses as possible 



g 



combined 



ith 



g and high feedin 



b 



but 



without any intention to giye to them their present appearance. 

 According to Youatt, 73 the introduction in Oliver Cromwell's 

 time of three celebrated Eastern stallions speedily affected the 

 English breed; "so that Lord Harleigh, one of the old school, 

 complained that the great horse was fast disappearing." This 

 is an excellent proof how carefullv selection must have been 



attended 



for 



such 



all traces of 



infusion of Eastern blood would soon 



been absorbed and 



2 « The India Sporting Keview,' vol. ii. p. 181 ; ■ The Stud Farm,' by Cecil, p. 58; 



' Ti < The Horse/ p. 22. 



i 



) 



