DOMESTICATED ANIMALS 



273 



This is certainly true of 

 the goldfish which is a 

 product of Chinese ani- 

 mal breeding. Some 

 most bizarre forms have 

 been produced in the 

 thousand or more years in 

 which this fish has been a 

 subject of selection and 

 hybridization. 



There are also finally 

 at least two species of 

 insects that have a right 

 to be called domesticated 

 animals, namely, t he- 

 honeybee and the mul- 

 berry silkworm. The 



KM;. 147. Silver-laced \Yyandutte cockerel. 



honeybee, Apis mel- 

 lijica, has been lorn*; 

 used by man to obtain 

 honey from, but only 

 modern times has 



in 



the species been the 

 subject of true "breed- 

 ing." However, already 

 several distinct races 

 have been produced. 

 The bee is native to 

 Europe and Asia, and 

 "wild" honeybees in 

 America are only com- 

 munities established by 

 wandering swarms 

 from hives, or from 



FIG. 148. White-crested black Polisii cock. Other "wild" COmmimi- 



