268 
ON BREEDING, 
destroyed, whilst the breed of the latter was carefully preserved, 
not as an object of curiosity, but in consequence of their being 
less able to jump over fences, as they could neither run nor jump 
like other sheep. Hence proceeded a strong marked variety in 
this species of animals, before unknown in the world. 
“ Among mankind, individuals are occasionally produced with 
supernumerary members on the hands and feet, or on both; and 
from them, whether males or females, the organic peculiarity fre¬ 
quently passes to their children.” 
Another remarkable example of peculiarity of form, and of its 
hereditary transmission, is exemplified by the English family of 
porcupine men, who derived that name from the whole surface of 
their bodies, except their hands and feet, being covered by hard, 
dark-coloured excrescences, of a horny nature. Mr. Lawrence 
supposes, that if the porcupine family had been exiled from hu¬ 
man society, and been obliged to take up their abode in some 
desert island, by matching with each other a race would have 
been produced more widely different from us, in external ap¬ 
pearances, than the negro. 
To accident also may be attributed the number of diminutive 
breeds of dogs. Buffon enumerates thirty fixed varieties; of these 
there are seventeen he ascribes to the influence of climate; the re¬ 
maining thirteen he considers as accidental varieties. 
“ Nature is various in her act, 
Prone to enlarge, }et studious to contract; 
Now forms her works too small, now too immense ; 
And scorns the measure of our common sense. 
Much difference of opinion appears to exist between authors 
relating to the production of hybrid animals; some supposing 
that many, originally distinct species, are capable of breeding to¬ 
gether ; and that their offspring are oftentimes prolific: hence 
the probable formation of new varieties. 
That there are instances on record of hybrid animals being ca¬ 
pable of procreation is very certain; but the instances are too few 
to justify the opinion that Pallas and others have entertained, 
that our breed of dogs, sheep, and even poultry, were factitious 
beings, not descended from any wild original, but from a mixture 
of nearly allied primitive species, whose offspring have possessed 
prolific powers. The dog, he supposes, proceeded from the 
jackall, the wolf, and the fox. Buffon supposes that mules more 
frequently produced in warm countries than in cold ones ; “ and 
there are some instances,” he says, “ of their producing even in 
our temperate climes.” Herodotus mentions an instance of a 
mule producing a young one at the besieging of Babylon by 
Darius: this was regarded as a prodigy, which preceded the ca¬ 
lamity of the taking of the city. 
