| → experimentised on 1859 1860 |
| profoundly modified. Moreover, most of the varieties which 1861 |
| experimented on 1866 1869 1872 |
|
| → produced 1859 1860 1866 1869 1872 |
| experimented on have been produced 1861 |
|
| → apparently 1859 |
| (I do not mean mere confinement) apparently 1860 1861 |
| (I do not mean mere confinement) almost certainly 1866 1869 1872 |
|
| → sterility, 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
| that sterility which, judging from analogy, would have affected the parent-species if intercrossed, 1872 |
|
| → it also to produce sterility. 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
| that domestication would likewise induce sterility in their modified descendants when crossed. 1872 |
|
| ↑ 10 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869; present in 1872 |
| This elimination of sterility apparently follows from the same cause which allows our domestic animals to breed freely under diversified circumstances; and this again apparently follows from their having been gradually accustomed to frequent changes in their conditions of life.
A double and parallel series of facts seems to throw much light on the sterility of species, when first crossed, and of their hybrid offspring.
On the one side, there is good reason to believe that slight changes in the conditions of life give vigour and fertility to all organic beings.
We know also that a cross between the distinct individuals of the same variety, and between distinct varieties, increases the number of their offspring, and certainly gives to them increased size and vigour.
This is chiefly owing to the forms which are crossed having been exposed to somewhat different conditions of life; for I have ascertained by a laborious series of experiments that if all the individuals of the same variety be subjected during several generations to the same conditions, the good derived from crossing is often much diminished or wholly disappears.
This is one side of the case.
On the other side, we know that species which have long been exposed to nearly uniform conditions, when they are subjected under confinement to new and greatly changed conditions, either perish, or if they survive, are rendered sterile, though retaining perfect health.
This does not occur, or only in a very slight degree, with our domesticated productions, which have long been exposed to fluctuating conditions.
Hence, when we find that hybrids produced by a cross between two distinct species are few in number, owing to their perishing soon after conception or at a very early age, or if surviving that they are rendered more or less sterile, it seems highly probable that this result is due to their having been in fact subjected to a great change in their conditions of life, from being compounded of two distinct organisations.
He who will explain in a definite manner why, for instance, an elephant or a fox will not breed under confinement in its native country, whilst the domestic pig or dog will breed freely under the most diversified conditions, will at the same time be able to give a definite answer to the question why two distinct species, when crossed, as well as their hybrid offspring, are generally rendered more or less sterile, whilst two domesticated varieties when crossed and their mongrel offspring are perfectly fertile.
|
|
| → are 1859 1860 1861 |
| of hybrids are 1866 1869 |
|
| → in 1859 1860 1861 |
| of course in 1866 1869 |
|
| → their constitutions having been disturbed by slightly different and new conditions of life, 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
| being exposed to slightly changed conditions, 1869 |
|
| → organisations. 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
| organisations; but whether this is the true cause of their sterility I will not pretend to decide. 1869 |
|
| → acquire from being crossed 1859 1860 1861 |
| when crossed acquire 1866 1869 |
|
