65 



man uow make available to his use ? The Coinmou Fowl, pro- 

 bably, was put in man's way intentionally semi-domesticated, 

 and afterwards taken by him centuries ago to various parts, and 

 in suitable places for it perhaps it strayed, and for what we 

 know the diiferent varieties found wild in the several localities 

 in which they exist may have all sprung from the same original 

 stock, but which may have been very different in appearance 

 from any existing at the present time, but still be the same spe- 

 cies. 



How admirably adapted the fowl is to man's use in every re- 

 spect : look at the eggs alone, and the easily reared young, so 

 totally different from what might have been expected from such 

 a bird the natural shyness of the tribe to which it belongs en- 

 tirely gone. Xow the Pheasant, notwithstanding the length of 

 time it has been domesticated, never entirely loses its shyness ; 

 individuals may, but the species does not, and the young are very 

 much more difficult to rear, clearly showing it was not intended 

 to be turned into an entirely tame bird, and be useful to man in 

 the way of the fowl. Similar remarks apply equally to the 

 Pheasant and the varieties of it found in the different countries, 

 but probably not including any but those closely allied in form 

 and general appearance. Leaving the birds, but on the same 

 subject, as regards Camels, I think it is apparent they were 

 originally created for man's use, and also Horses. What was the 

 original of either ? What were the originals of our Dogs and 

 Cats ? May not some of the wild animals now found in various 

 parts of the world, and which are considered species, have in like 

 manner descended from escaped animals, and in time have nearly 

 lost all trace of their originality. I think if such animals pro- 

 duce fertile young when crossed with our domesticated animals, 

 this would prove their identification as species. 



Another little animal seems to have been created for man's 

 use, the Rabbit. Why was it selected instead of the Hare, 

 which is so much larger ? The Hare, useful as it is, often al- 

 most semi-domesticated, seems disinclined to submit to man's 



