New-York tribune., 1868-05-06
VIEW PUBLICATIONS.
Darwin ON THE VARIATION or ANIhALS
AND PLANTS.

VCle. u orange SuoN ~ SOAAbtshJ'
The present work isnOt intended so much tOfuInIsh
avoot proof of the authors daring theory with regard
a the origin Of species that all the various races Of
npipals are descendants of one common prOgenitor,
a. TO Illustrate the doctrine by the influence Of do
saescatiOn in producing variations from the original
type. in all the writings Of Mr.. Darwin on this sub
oct great prominence is given 70 the idea that final
saases are nadmissbe jim the researches Of science
and chat the apparently marvellous adaptations ID
the animal and vegetable kingdoms are Dotthe result
st specific design, but the effect OF manifold comol-
pasiOns that have taken place, in accordance WIN
natuTa laws, in the progress of innumerable ages
pIisT not only TO the records Of authentic history DC
beyeDd the grasp of the imagination Inc Qu"l'oS
ni the dog, for instance, do not proceed Iroh uen
ite plan arranged for the production OF ateEoclouS
breed with jaws fitted 70 pin down the OuiI ioi 'no
brutal spert OF man. In like manner the symmetry
mad vieor Of the greyhound have been the slow
otewtb Of centuries, during which external crcum
stanoes have impeTceptibly effected those important
ariaiions from the pattern of the pimeval dog Inns
a. an example Of the natural mode in which all the
varieties of the animal world have been produced
Nothing is assumed as essential data OF the problem
hot a more or less plastic organization, and an un-
limited successiOn of time. Beneficial changes Of
structure have been preserved by the law OF natural
5nheritance Others Of an injurious character have
been vigorously destroyed. The lOng-continued ac'
esmnlatOn of favorable varieties has inevitably led
te Che beautiful and admirable harmOnies which
oaTk the diversified structures of animal and vege
table life il is the same process rs If an ARCHITECT
Spere compelled to build an edifce with uncut stones,
fallen from precipice. He would select from the
fragments at the base wedge-formed stones for his
arches elongated stones for his ntes and nat stones
fer his roofs The shape of each fragment in respect
to the architect may be called accidental, although
Sc has been determined by the force Of gravity the
mature of the rock the form of the precipice, and
sther circumstances which depend on natural laws
Bat these laws had relation to the purposes of the
builder in the use of the fragments. So the vara-
4ions of each living being subject to immUtabie
lave; but these have reference to the structure
wbch is built up under the action of extoSn9l cir
gOmstances.
Among the laws or influences which tend 10 pro
Once varieties of structure the first place is assigned
ky Mr. Darwin to the principle Of inhVritance
whenever new quality arises, it tends to be tEns-
naitted to succeeding generations The instances
which Illustrate this are numerous, and of sin
bUlarly striking character. Both with man and the
Domestic animals certain pecularties have appeared
% an individual at interYals-peThaps only once
OF twice in the history of the wOrldbut have reap
peared in several of the children and grandchildren.
Fhus Lambert the pOreupine man, whose skin was
covered with warty projections which were period
jeally mouted had all his six children, and his male
descendants to the fourth generation, similarly af-
sected. There is an English family in which for
many generations some members had a single lock
differently colored from the rest OF the hair. Among
che authors acquaintance was an Irish gentleman
who had small white lock in the midst of his dark
hair on the right side of his mead, whose mother and
grandmother had similar pecnliarity. The records
of hereditary disease present a copous store of
examples to the same effect With gout according
20 good authority, fifty per cent Of the cases OBJ
seFved in hospital practice inherited and greater
percentage in private practice, Every knows the
Tendency of insanity to run in families In the case
Of animals. there is scarcely malady to which the
horse is subject that is not hereditary. The same is
Srne with the various breeds of cattle. Plants as
every practical botanist is aware form no exception
TO the rule. -
No less than disease, good health ylgOr, longevity
ere inherited from ancestors. The English race
hOrse affords remarkable instance of this Pure
blood is the condition of success The famous
Eclipse was the sire of 3S4 winners. King HeTOd of
6a There are but very few instances of horse,
even with slight admixture in his veins, having
won great race. On the continent of Europe, it IS
affirmed, there is mot a good horse without some
trace of English ancestry.
Still the power of inheritance which is illustrated
by vast accumulation of facts, is often feeble,
Oapricious. and uncertain in its results When a new
peculiarly first appears its transmission can never
De predicted With most plants. the power depends
On some innate capacity in the individual The
peDdulous growth of trees is strongly in-
herited in some cases, and without any as
signable reason, feelby in other eases. Flowers
transmit their color most capricously. So with
Domestic animals. No character is more variable
than color especially with the horse. But the
most fiuctuating qualities are transmitted more
4Orcibly than is generally supposed.
peculiar feature ia the principle Of inheritance
Is FeveIsion OF atayism, concerning which Mr. Dar-
win gives an abundance of curious facts This is
when the child instead of resembling its immediate
p5Tents inheTits the qualities of remote anees
Tor, or some distant member Of the family in col
lateral line. Cases of this kind may be found
among pigeons Of which the variously eOlored pure
Nreeds sometimes show specimen of blue with all
Che marks that characterize their wild prOgenitor.
The same is often observed with fowls, Among the
Ornless breeds of Sheep and CATTLE it is not unusual
50 find q lamb or calf with horns, which were no
doubt possessed by the aboriginal species. The
primitive stock OF the horse for reasons assigned by
the author is believed to have been striped and dun
cOlored and in all parts Of the world stripes OF a
dark color frequently appear along the spne
the legs. aud on the shoulders and sometimes even
an the face and body Of horses Of all breeds and of
ell cOloTs These stripes appear most frequently on
The various kinds OF duns They are sometimes seen
on foals and subsequently disappear The legs Of the
sss are often striped, showing a reversiOn to the
yrmeyal form, the Wild ass Of Abyssinia. which is
thus striped.
The variability Of organic beings once established,
4be transition is easy to the principle of selection.
whether exercised by man, or brought into play
under nature through the struggle for existence.
This principle may be divided into three kinds :