82 REPORT — 1864. 



the semidomesticated or domesticable animals, sucli as the Buffalo, the Goat, the 

 Pip:, the Rabbit, the Reindeer, the Yak, and some other Asiatic cattle, are foimd 

 both in the tame and the vnld state, and often in the same region and in close 

 proximity to each other. The Asiatic Elephant, and a few other animals which 

 can be made tractable under man's direction, never (or very rarely) breed in 

 domestication ; and all the individuals of these very useful races are caught wild 

 and brought into subjection by ti-aining. The African Elephant is evidently equally 

 amenable to man's conti-ol, and was equally domesticated by the Romans ; but the 

 negroes do not seem to appreciate the advantages which they might derive from its 

 domestication, and only make use of its tractable disposition to keep it in captivity 

 until such time as its ivory is best fitted for the market, when, also, they can feed 

 upon its flesh. 



All om' domestic or semidomestic animals have their proper home in the tem- 

 perate regions of Europe and Asia. They all, except the Ass, bear great cold bet- 

 ter than excessive heat ; and even the Ass suffers greatly on the coasts of the 

 tropics. The Sheep, in the warmer regions, require to be driven to the cool moun- 

 tains dming the hot season. In the tropics they lose their wool, and, like the long- 

 haired goats and dogs, change the character of their fur. The inhabitants of the 

 arctic region or subarctic regions of Eiu'ope and Asia have partially domesticated 

 the Reindeer. 



Either Asiatics have a peculiar aptitude for domesticating animals, or the Rumi- 

 nants of that part of the world are peculiarly adapted for domestication. In the 

 moimtain regions of Tibet and Siberia the Yak has been domesticated, and, like the 

 Reindeer of the arctic regions, it is used as a beast of biu-then as well as for milk 

 and food. The steppes of Asia are the home of the Camel and the Dromedary. In 

 the lower and warmer regions of central and southern Asia the Zebu has been 

 completely domesticated; and the natives of India and of the islands of the Malayan 

 archipelago have brought into a semidomesticated state various species of wild 

 cattle, such as the Gyal, the Gour, and the Banting, and have even obtained some 

 hybrid breeds between some of them and the Zebus, as well as the Buffalo, which 

 they have in common with Afiica and the south of Europe. In the park of the 

 Governor-General of India there are large herds of the Black Antelope, the Axis 

 Deer, and the Porcine Deer in a semidomestic state ; and our officers found in 

 the park of the Emperor of China at Pekin more than one species of domesticated 

 native Deer. We have as yet received from Japan only one peculiar species of 

 domestic animal, viz. a Pig vntli a plaited face (Stis plicatiis) ; but it is not unlikely 

 that the Deer called Cervus Sika is a domesticated species, like the Ccrvus Swinhoii 

 of Formosa. In Celebes there is a small Buffalo called Anoa ; and in the same 

 island, as well as in Java and some of the other islands of the Indian Ocean, most 

 of the aboriginal pigs, including the Babirussa, have been more or less completely 

 domesticated. These numerous instances will suflice to show how largely Asiatics 

 have been enabled to draw aromid them for additions to then* domestic or half- 

 domestic races ; but a glance at the habits and manners of most of them will suf- 

 fice to show how little they would be suited to our more northern climate, and how 

 small would be the advantage gained were it possible to mtroduce them here. 



Africa has only sent to Europe the Guinea-fowl, that vagrant from our farm- 

 yards ; but it too has some domesticated animals of its own. In the more fertile 

 and well-watered parts of that continent there exist at least five different kinds of 

 domestic cattle : — the Buffalo {Bos Bithalun) and humpless cattle, which appear to 

 be of the same species and to be derived ft-om the same som'ce as the Buffalo and 

 domestic Oxen of Europe. The African Zebu {Bos Dante) appears to be distinct 

 fi'om the Zebu of India, and is probably an indigenous domestic race ; and the long- 

 eared bush-cattle, or Zanious {Bos hrachyccros), are certainly an aboriginal species 

 peculiar to tropical Africa. Besides these, it has, in the Desert regions, the Camel 

 in common with Asia : this animal is also partially domesticated in the southern 

 parts of Europe. 



Captain Burton observes, "The Negi-o fails in domestication of lower animals, 

 because he is deficient in forbearance with them ; in a short time his violence will 

 ruin the temper of a horse, and he will staiTe an English dog for which he has 

 perhaps paid a high price." 



