756 EASTERN COUNTIES VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
know how we can better consider the hereditary peculiarities of animals 
than by commencing with our old domestic friend the hog—the “ cot¬ 
tager’s friend,” as he is sometimes termed, although, from my experience, 
the good old days of the farm labourer, the pigstye and pightle of land— 
I use a Norfolk phrase—are nearly gone, I fear, for ever. 
Dr. Pritchard relates some very interesting instances of structural 
changes and hereditary instincts of domesticated animals. He says : 
“ Swine transported from Europe to America, since the discovery of the 
western continent by the ‘ Spaniards’ in the fourteenth century, and 
wandering at large in the vast forests of the new world, and feeding on 
wild fruits, have resumed the manner and existence that belonged to 
the original stock. 
“ Their appearance now closely resembles the wild boar. Their ears 
have become erect, their heads are larger, and their forehead vaulted 
at the upper part; their colour has lost the variety found in the domestic 
breeds. The wild hogs in the American forest are uniformly black; 
the hogs which inhabit the Paramas bears a striking resemblance to the 
wild boars of France. The restoration of the original character of the 
wild boar, in a race descended from domesticated swine, removes all 
reason for doubt as to the identity of the stock. The restoration of one 
uniform black colour and the change of their sparse hair and bristles for 
a thick fur are facts that cannot fail to be noticed.” 
A very remarkable fact relative to the oxen of South America is 
recorded by M. Poulin. In England the milking of cows is continued 
through the whole period, from the time when they begin to bear 
calves till they cease to breed. This secretion of milk has be¬ 
come a constant function in animals of the tribe; it has been rendered 
such by the practice, continued through long series of generations, of 
continuing to draw milk long after the period likely to be wanted for 
the calf; the teats of the cow are longer in proportion, and the secretion 
is perpetual. In Columbia the practice of milking cows was laid aside 
owing to the great extent of farms and other circumstances. In a few 
generations the natural structure of the parts and the natural state of 
the function has been restored, and now the secretion of milk in this 
country is contemporary with the actual presence of the calf. If the 
calf dies the milk ceases to flow. 
This testimony is highly important by the proof which it affords, that 
the permanent production of milk in the European herds of cows is pro¬ 
duced by an artificial habit continued through several generations. 
Again, the horses bred on the grazing farms of the table land of the 
Cordilleras are carefully taught a peculiar pace, which is a sort of run¬ 
ning amble. This is not their natural mode of progression, but they are 
inured to it very early, and the greatest pains are taken to prevent them 
moving in any other gait. In this way the acquired habit becomes a 
second nature. It happens occasionally that such horses becoming lame 
are no longer fit for use. It is then customary to let them loose, if they 
be well-grown stallions, into the pasture grounds. 
It is constantly observed that these horses become the sires of a race 
to which the ambling pace is natural, and requires no teaching. The fact 
is so well known that such colts have received a particular name— 
“ aguillas.” 
“ The habit of the setter dog,” his stopping, crouching, and backing, 
in the pursuit of game, is familiar to us. This, by constant teaching, has 
become hereditary to such an extent that the first time a well-bred young 
dog is taken into the field it is not uncommon, as soon as he gets on the 
scent of the game, for him to stand and remain immovable till instructed 
