SPECIES AND BREEDS. 147 
ences among animals to natural influences, it 
would seem, that, while a certain freedom of 
development is left, within the lhmits of which 
man can exercise his intelligence and his inge- 
nuity, not even this superficial influence is allowed 
to physical conditions unaided by some guiding 
power, since, in their normal state, the wild Species 
remain, so far as we have been avle to discover, 
entirely unchanged, — maintained, it is true, in 
their integrity by the circumstances established for 
their support, but never altered by them. Nature 
holds inviolable the stamp that God has set upon 
his creatures; and if man is able to influence 
their organization in some slight degree, it is 
because the Creator has given to his relations 
with the animals he has intended for his com- 
panions the same plasticity which he has allowed 
to every other side of his life, in virtue of which 
he may in some sort mould and shape it to his 
own ends, and be held responsible also for its 
results. ! 
The common sense of a civilized community 
has already pointed out the true distinction, in 
applying another word to the discrimination of 
the different kinds of domesticated animals, 
They are called Breeds, and Breeds among ani- 
mals are tlie work of man: Species were created 
by God. 
