PHYSIOLOGY OF BREEDING. 
323 
to the formation of certain structures and to the develop- 
ment of certain qualities. 55 And advancing a step further, he 
maintainsthat “themale parent chiefly determines the external 
characters and locomotive powers generally, while the female 
gives the internal structures and the vital organs. 55 His 
experiments and examples extend over no less than three 
divisions of the animal kingdom — beasts, birds, and fishes, 
and they appear to be most fairly and judiciously conducted, 
and very generally to warrant the conclusion at which he has 
arrived. Where they have not done so, he offers such expla- 
nations of the fact as to account for it as an exception to 
the rule, and as being produced by temporary and uncertain 
causes. Unlike many modern theorists, who, having hastily 
adopted a crude and ill-considered idea, wrest the results of 
their experiments so as to make them conduce towards the 
proof of it, Mr. Orton has worked his way slowly and step 
by step from his observations through his experiments to his 
theory ; and it is this which entitles his opinion to the greatest 
weight. In addition, Dr. Harvey has advanced purely 
physiological reasons, which make its truth not only possible 
but probable. 
But notwithstanding all this ; notwithstanding that the 
naturalist and physiologist both appear to declare for Mr. 
Orton’s theory, I must say, with much deference, that I still 
doubt whether it can be accepted as a rule, or that, at least, if 
it be one, it is liable to too many exceptions to render it of much 
practical value to the breeder ; and I ground my scepticism 
principally on physiological facts. 
In a pamphlet ‘On the Form of Animals, 5 written by the 
late Mr. Henry Clive, one of the most eminent surgeons and 
physiologists of his day, it is laid down as an axiom, “ that 
the external form is only an index to the internal structure ; 55 
and I fully coincide with the opinion he has expressed. As 
this position is of great importance, in short the basis of the 
argument on which I ground my dissent to Mr. Orton’s 
views, 1 must take leave to detail a few of the reasons which 
have induced me to accept it as a true one. Every one at all 
conversant with anatomy is aware, that in a foetus the vital 
organs are invariably formed first, and the framework, viz., 
the ribs, limbs, &c., afterwards ; or, as Dr. Harvey expresses 
it, “ the whole osseous framework is moulded in adaptation 
to the softer structures immediately related to it and no 
one need be reminded how soft and yielding are the bones 
of all young animals. Now it is evident, that if the vital 
organs are healthy, fully developed, and vigorous, the ribs, 
pelvis, &c., must be well formed also, and vice versa ; there- 
