1S60.] Notes on tie Eaces of Rein Deer. 389 



raised from the domestic Turkey crossed with the wild species of the 

 Atlantic States are rarely prolific. 



Civilized man — or at any rate European civilized man — has domes- 

 ticated no animal from the New World ; he has tamed and bred 

 certain Curassows and Guans, but it is doubtful if they can ever be 

 trusted loose and unmutilated in the poultry-yard, like the indi- 

 genously domesticated Turkey. The only truly domesticated animals 

 of America are sundry native Dogs, the Llama and Alpaca, and the 

 little insignificant Gruinea-pig, among mammalia ; and the Turkey 

 and the Musk Duck among birds. Of Old World species, the Eabbit 

 has been domesticated probably within the Christian sera, and also 

 the Ferret (to a certain extent) among Camivora ; but neither of these 

 are allowed their liberty (though some Eabbits, I think, might be,) 

 any more than are the races of white and parti-coloured Mice, — all of 

 which are so far domesticated that individuals require no taming, and 

 may be freely handled without occasioning distrust : the development 

 of the breeds of domestic Eabbits is, indeed, quite of modern date ; unless, 

 perhaps, in the instance of the long-haired Angora Eabbit. I believe 

 that all of the true Geese are most readily domesticable ; and the fine 

 Canada Goose falls within the category, but although tame Canada 

 Geese multiply freely, they have not yet so far succumbed to the usual 

 influences of domestication as to vary in colour, like the Pea-fowl and 

 Guinea-fowl, and even the semi-wild and protected Pheasant and the 

 Fallow Deer. Neither, for that matter, has the semi-domestic Swan, 

 which differs in no respect from the wild mute species, nor the 

 Pea-fowl and Guinea-fowl more than the semi-wild Pheasant. All of 

 the more thoroughly subdued (and highly varying) and of the more 

 important of domestic animals would seem to have been subjected by 

 mankind in an exceedingly low stage of civilization. 



The only domestic Insessorial bird is the Canary-bird ; and it 

 remains to be shewn that this also is not descended from a tame 

 stock possessed by the ancient Guanche inhabitants of the Canary 

 islands. With the exception of the Canary-bird, all domestic mem- 

 bers of the class Aves are either Pavonidce, Columbidee, or Anatidce. 

 The only domestic mammalia are the Dog and Cat (and Ferret to a 

 certain extent) among the Camivora, the Eabbit, Mouse, and Guinea- 



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