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The Descent of Man

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INHERITANCE AT CORRESPONDING<br />

SEASONS OF THE YEAR.<br />

With animals in a state <strong>of</strong> nature, innumerable<br />

instances occur <strong>of</strong> characters appearing periodically<br />

at different seasons. We see this in the<br />

horns <strong>of</strong> the stag, and in the fur <strong>of</strong> Artic animals<br />

which becomes thick and white during<br />

the winter. <strong>Man</strong>y birds acquire bright colours<br />

and other decorations during the breedingseason<br />

alone. Pallas states (35. 'Novae species<br />

Quadrupedum e Glirium ordine,' 1778, p. 7. On<br />

the transmission <strong>of</strong> colour by the horse, see<br />

'Variation <strong>of</strong> Animals and Plants under Domestication,'<br />

vol. i. p. 51. Also vol. ii. p. 71, for a<br />

general discussion on 'Inheritance as limited by<br />

Sex.'), that in Siberia domestic cattle and horses<br />

become lighter-coloured during the winter; and<br />

I have myself observed, and heard <strong>of</strong> similar<br />

strongly marked changes <strong>of</strong> colour, that is,<br />

from brownish cream-colour or reddish-brown<br />

to a perfect white, in several ponies in England.<br />

Although I do not know that this tendency to

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