78 ARE THE EFFECTS OF USE INHERITED? 



handsomest and best-tempered does to serve as 

 breeders. To a still greater extent man has 

 favoured tameness unconsciously and indirectly. 

 He has systematically selected the largest and 

 most prolific animals, and has thus doubled the 

 size and the fertility of the domestic rabbit. In 

 consciously selecting the largest and most flourish- 

 ing individuals and the best and most prolific 

 mothers, he must have unconsciously selected 

 those rabbits whose relative tameness or placidity 

 of disposition rendered it possible for them to 

 flourish and to produce and rear large and thriving 

 families, instead of fretting and pining as the 

 wilder captives would do. When we consider 

 how exceedingly delicate and easily disturbed yet 

 all-important a function is that of maternity in 

 the continually breeding rabbit,, we see that the 

 tamest and the least terrified would be the most 

 successful mothers, and so would continually be 

 selected, although man cared nothing for the tame- 



