*t THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES 



largely as the parent species of our existing domesticated 

 productions have varied. 



In the case of most of our anciently domesticated ani- 

 mals and plants, it is not possible to come to any definite 

 conclusion, whether they are descended from one or sev- 

 eral wild species. The argument mainly relied on by 

 those who believe in the multiple origin of our domestic 

 animals is, that we find in the most ancient times, on 

 the monuments of Egypt, and in the lake-habitations of 

 Switzerland, much diversity in the breeds; and that some 

 of these ancient breeds closely resemble, or are even 

 identical with, those still existing. But this only throws 

 far backward the history of civilization, 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 com- 

 merce with other nations. All this clearly shows, as 

 Heer has remarked, that they had at this early age 

 progressed considerably in civilization; and this again 

 implies a long contmued previous period of less ad- 

 vanced civilization, during which the domesticated ani- 

 mals, 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 bar- 

 barian 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 prob- 



