THE TECHNOLOGIST. [Nov. 1, 1864. 



184' ON THE REVERSION AND 



confirmed "by that of all the Arabs, the best horsemen in the world and 

 the most interested in studying the animal, upon whom indeed depends 

 their honour and their life, is certainly entitled to be regarded with some 

 respect. It is beyond all question that the Koummite — red mingled with 

 black, chestnut or bay — is preferred by the Arabs to all others. If I 

 might be allowed to quote my own personal experience, I should have 

 no hesitation in saying that, if there be any prejudice in the matter, I 

 share it with them. Besides, must it necessarily be a prejudice because 

 it may seem to be one ? No one will deny that all the individuals of the 

 same species are, in their wild state, identical in colour and endowed with 

 common instinctive qualities inherent in the race. These colours and these 

 qualities undergo no alteration or admixture except in a state of servitude 

 and under its influences, so that if any of these individuals by a return to 

 their natural condition, more easily proved than explained, happen to re- 

 cover the colour of their first ancestors, they will be equally distinguished by 

 more broadly defined natural qualities. The canine race may be taken 

 as an illustration. Whence it follows that a certain number of domesti- 

 cated individuals being given their coats alike and with dominant 

 qualities, it may be fairly concluded that this coat and these qualities 

 were those of the race in its wild state. In the case, then, of the Arab 

 horse, if it be true that those whose coat is red shaded with black are 

 endowed with superior speed, are we not justified in inferring that such 

 was the uniform colour, such the natural qualities, of the sires of 

 the race 1 I submit with all humility these observations to men of 

 science. 



" Abd-el-Kader assures us, moreover, that it is ascertained by the 

 Arabs that horses change colour according to the soil on which they are bred. 

 Is it not possible, in fact, that under an atmosphere more or less light, of 

 water more or less fresh, of a nurture more or less rich according as the soil 

 on which it is raised is more or less impregnated with certain elements, the 

 skin of the horse may be sensibly affected ? Every one knows that with 

 any coat the colour changes in tone and shade according to the locality 

 where the animal lives, the state of its health, the quality of the water it 

 drinkx, and of the food it eats, and the care that is bestowed upon it. There 

 is, perhaps, in all this a lesson in natural history not to be despised, for 

 if the circumstances in which a horse lives act upon his skin, they must 

 inevitably act also in the long run upon his form and qualities.'"* 



Truly does the author here remark, that there is " in all this a lesson 

 in natural history not to be despised," though, doubtless, he little 

 thought how applicable were his observations to the actual condition of 

 an insect of such value and importance to his own countrymen as the 

 Bombyx mori. I have italicised those passages to which I wish more 

 particularly to draw the reader's attention, and shall now proceed to 

 show their applicability to my present subject. 



-* 'The Horses of Sahara,' by Gen. Daumas, p. 20. English Translation. 



