240 



SELECTION, 



Chap. XXI. 



horses and dogs as fleet as possible, and others as strong as 

 possible ; certain kinds of sheep for extreme fineness, and others 

 for extreme length of wool ; and he wishes to produce fruit, grain, 

 tubers, and other useful parts of plants, as large and excellent as 

 possible. With animals bred for amusement, the same principle 

 is even more powerful ; for fashion, as we see even in our dress, 

 always runs to extremes. This view has been expressly admitted 

 by fanciers. Instances were given in the chapters on the pigeon, 

 but here is another : Mr. Eaton, after describing a compara- 

 tively new variety, namely, the Archangel, remarks, "What 

 " fanciers intend doing with this bird I am at a loss to know, 

 " whether they intend to breed it down to the tumbler's head 

 and beak, or carry it out to the carrier's head and beak ; leaving 

 " it as they found it, is not progressing." Ferguson, speaking 

 of fowls, says, " their peculiarities, whatever they may be, must 

 " necessarily be fully developed : a little peculiarity forms nought 

 " but ugliness, seeing it violates the existing laws of symmetry." 

 So Mr. Brent, in discussing the merits of the sub-varieties of the 

 Belgian canary-bird, remarks, " Fanciers always go to extremes ; 

 " they do not admire indefinite properties." 55 



This principle, which necessarily leads to divergence of 

 character, explains the present state of various domestic races. 

 We can thus see how it is that race-horses and dray-horses, 

 greyhounds and mastiffs, which are opposed to each other in 

 every character, — how varieties so distinct as Cochin-china fowls 

 and bantams, or carrier-pigeons with very long beaks, and 

 tumblers with excessively short beaks, have been derived from 

 the same stock. As each breed is slowly improved, the inferior 

 varieties are first neglected and finally lost. In a few cases, by 

 the aid of old records, or from intermediate varieties still exist- 

 ing in countries where other fashions have prevailed, we are 

 enabled partially to trace the graduated changes through which 

 certain breeds have passed. Selection, whether methodical or 

 unconscious, always tending towards an extreme point, together 

 with the neglect and slow extinction of the intermediate and 

 less-valued forms, is the key which unlocks the mystery how 

 man has produced such wonderful results. 



55 J. M. Eaton, ' A Treatise on Fancy Pigeons,' p. 82 ; Ferguson, on ' Rare and 

 Prize Poultry,' p. 1G2 ; Mr. Brent, in ' Cottage Gardener,' Oct. 18G0, p. 13. 





