HYBRIDISATION 
attempting to breed with what is generally called a mule, 
which is regarded as a sterile or barren, and, therefore, for 
breeding purposes, a useless or worthless animal. As, 
however, I shall bring forward only those cases in proof of 
which no possible doubt can exist, I hope to establish 
firmly in the minds of my readers that many of the 
animals resulting in the union of distinct species are 
capable of reproducing and continuing their race. 
What is a species ? AVhat is a hybrid ? With the 
former question it is necessary to first consider, or at least 
to make an attempt to define the meaning of the term 
species, before we can enter upon the second inquiry. 
The word species means a single race of beings ; but to 
avoid a too lengthy dissertation I will simply say that 
animals found in a wild state, differing sufficiently from all 
others in form, colour, size, marking, habits, voice, and 
other distinguishing characters, are recognized by persons 
who, by study and observation, have attended to those 
characters, as separate species. Such persons are, and 
must be admitted as, the only authorities who can decide 
upon any differences, and as being capable of fixing names 
to the animals distinguished as of different species. 
Certain animals, hereafter to be mentioned, which are 
described and admitted by all the most reliable authorities 
to be of distinct and well-known species, have, from time 
to time, come together, and the result has been offspring, 
commonly called hybrids, mules, or bastards. The reason 
why the animals of a mixed species are not common, and, 
therefore, are not frequently found in any large number 
together, is accounted for by the fact that they rarely have 
the opportunity of reproducing their kind. Another reason 
is that they are so generally regarded as unable to repro- 
duce that few persons think of attempting to breed them. 
A still more potent reason will be found in the fact that a 
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