THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS 



changed essentially in form since the pre-historic 

 period, and undoubtedly the teeth are those of an 

 omnivorous animal. This does not prove that man 

 should necessarily indulge in a widely varied diet 

 to-day, but it offers at least a suggestive hint. 



The diet of primitive man doubtless depended largely 

 upon opportunity. In tropical and semi-tropical 

 latitudes where we may suppose our primitive ancestor 

 made his home fruits and nuts were to be found in 

 relative abundance, suitable for food without artificial 

 preparation. Eggs of birds and reptiles, and the flesh 

 of young birds and animals were also obtainable, as 

 were numerous species of snails and large insects; and 

 along the rivers mollusks and fish could be secured. 

 So from the very first man's appetite was pampered by 

 a varied diet. 



When man became a full-fledged hunter and fisher, 

 and wandered to the north, he doubtless disturbed 

 somewhat the balance of his dietary by the increased 

 proportion of proteins represented by the flesh of his 

 quarry. But, on the other hand, he presently became 

 an agriculturist also, and the cereals and vegetables 

 thus added to his food-supply tended to restore the 

 balance, by supplying an abundant store of carbo- 

 hydrates. 



Before the dawn of history man had become an 

 efficient herder and agriculturist; his herds comprised 

 the ox, sheep, and goat. The jungle fowl was not yet 

 known in the Mediterranean region, but ducks, geese, 

 and pigs had been tamed; rye, barley, oats, wheat, 

 and rice were under cultivation, together with a con- 



