106 THE DOMESTICATION OF ANIMALS 



might expect, the colour of the plumage has changed, for the 

 common goose seldom shows the varied browns and greys 

 of the Grey Lag, although it ranges from dusky grey to pure 

 white, the latter colour being almost invariably assumed 

 by aged ganders. Selection for the table has led to an 

 increase in the size and depth of the body, and this, added 

 to compulsory inactivity, has brought with it increasing 

 inability to fly and the exaggerated waddling walk of a 

 creature whose weight has outgrown the intentions of its 

 limbs. Selection for egg-laying has resulted in a great in- 

 crease of productiveness, for the clutch of five to eight eggs 

 of the wild goose is insignificant compared with the year's 

 produce of the domesticated breeds. 



SUNDRY OTHER DOMESTICS 



The domestication of the Common Duck probably 

 stands in similar relationship to Scotland as that of the 

 Goose. It is agreed that the wild species whence sprang 

 the "clam'rous duck" that "on the brink of her foul puddle 

 quacks" is the common "wild duck" of our Islands the 

 Mallard (Anas boscas) 1 . The abundance of this species as 

 a resident throughout Scotland, and the ease with which it 

 can be tamed suggest that, like the goose, it may have been 

 domesticated in our country at an early date. The influences 

 that have played upon the duck in domestication have had 

 effects similar to those referred to in the case of the goose, 

 changes in the colour of plumage, increase of body, decreased 

 power of flight, an exaggerated waddling walk and enormous 

 increase in egg-production compared with the clutches of 

 eight to twelve eggs of the wild bird. 



The Turkey and the Guinea Fowl the former descended 

 from a wild Mexican species (Meleagris mexicana], the latter 

 from East Africa (Numida ptilorhynca], were introduced 

 to Scotland in a domesticated state, and have shown no 

 distinctive changes under our care. 



Domesticated Rabbits, descended from the common 

 wild Rabbit (Lepus (Oryctolagus) cuniculus), which itself 

 was introduced to Scotland ultimately from south-western 



1 So evident was the relationship in the early days of its domestication 

 that the domestic duck is actually termed (in Munimenta GUdhallae 

 Londonensis) a "dunghill Mallard." 



