CHAP. I.] CHARACTER OF DOMESTIC VARIETIES. 13 



ing. But this only throws far backwards the history of civilisa- 

 tion, and shows that animals were domesticated at a much earlier 

 period than has hitherto been supposed. The lake-inhabitants of 

 Switzerland cultivated several kinds of wheat and barley, the pea, 

 the poppy for oil, and flax ; and they possessed several domesticated 

 animals. They also carried on commerce with other nations. All 

 this clearly shows, as Heer has remarked, that they had at this 

 early age progressed considerably in civilisation ; and this again 

 implies a long continued previous period of less advanced civilisa- 

 tion, during which the domesticated animals, kept by different 

 tribes in different districts, might have varied and given rise to 

 distinct races. Since the discovery of flint tools in the superficial 

 formations of many parts of the world, all geologists believe that 

 barbarian man existed at an enormously remote period ; and we 

 know that at the present day there is hardly a tribe so barbarous, 

 as not to have domesticated at least the dog. 



The origin of most of our domestic animals will probably for ever 

 remain vague. But I may here state, that, looking to the domestic 

 dogs of the whole world, I have, after a laborious collection of all 

 known facts, come to the conclusion that several wild species of 

 Canidae have been tamed, and that their blood, in some cases 

 mingled together, flows in the veins of our domestic breeds. In 

 regard to sheep and goats I can form no decided opinion. From 

 facts communicated to me by Mr. Blyth, on the habits, voice, con- 

 stitution, and structure of the humped Indian cattle, it is almost 

 certain that they are descended from a different aboriginal stock 

 from our European cattle ; and some competent judges believe that 

 these latter have had two or three wild progenitors, whether or 

 not these deserve to be called species. This conclusion, as well as 

 that of the specific distinction between the humped and common 

 cattle, may, indeed, be looked upon as established by the admirable 

 researches of Professor Rutimeyer. With respect to horses, from 

 reasons which I cannot here give, I am doubtfully inclined to 

 believe, in opposition to several authors, that all the races belong 

 to the same species. Having kept nearly all the English breeds of 

 the fowl alive, having bred and crossed them, and examined their 

 skeletons, it appears to me almost certain that all are the descend- 

 ants of the wild Indian fowl, Gallus bankiva ; and this is the con- 

 clusion of Mr. Blyth, and of others who have studied this bird in 

 India. In regard to ducks and rabbits, some breeds of which 

 differ much from each other, the evidence is clear that they are all 

 descended from the common wild duck and rabbit 



The doctrine of the origin of our several domestic races from 

 several aboriginal stocks, has been carried to an absurd extreme by 

 some authors. They believe that every race which breeds true, let 

 the distinctive characters be ever so slight, has had its wild proto- 



