2 DOMESTICATED ANIMALS 



ures of their own family, man is the only vertebrate that 

 has ever adopted the plan of domesticating a variety of 

 animals and plants. The beginnings of this custom were 

 made in a very remote time, and for long ages the profit 

 which was thereby gained appears to have been but slight. 

 Gradually, however, races, owing to their masterful quality 

 and to the opportunities which were offered by the wild 

 life about their dwelling places, obtained flocks and herds. 

 In the group of continents commonly termed the old world, 

 where there were several ancient primitive peoples of in- 

 nate ability, and where there were many species of larger 

 mammals which were well fitted for domestication, the 

 advance in social development went on rapidly. In the new 

 world, though the primitive races contained tribes of much 

 ability, there was practically no chance for the people to add 

 to their strength by the subjugation of beasts of burden, or 

 to their food resources by the adoption of various animals 

 which could be used for the needs of food or raiment. The 

 advance of men when they have obtained valuable domes- 

 ticated animals, and their failure to win a high station where 

 the surrounding nature denied such opportunities, go far to 

 prove the bearing of this accomplishment in the development 

 of peoples. 



A little consideration makes it evident to us that the 

 advance of mankind above the original savage state is in 

 several ways favored by the possession of domesticated ani- 

 mals. In the first place, each creature which is adopted into 

 the household or the fields usually brings as its tribute a sub- 

 stantial contribution to the resources which tend to make 

 the society commercially successful. When we consider the 

 enlargements of resources and the diversification of indus- 



