DOMESTICATED ANIMALS 



271 



The domestic ducks are derived from the wild duck Anas 

 boschas, and have evidently originated from this ancestor 

 independently both in China and in Europe. ' The domestic 

 geese seem to have an older origin than the ducks; in fact 

 geese are probably the oldest of domesticated birds. The 

 ancestor of our races is the wild species Anas cinereus. The 

 Chinese races how- 

 ever, are descended 

 from Anas cygmoi- 

 des, and the early 

 Egyptians seem to 

 have tamed and 

 used the Nile 

 goose, Chenalopex 

 egyptiaca. 



The domesticated 

 peacocks are de- 

 scended from the 

 wild species of In- 

 dia, Pavo cristatus. 

 The turkeys trace 

 their ancestry to 

 the wild Meleagris 

 gallopavo of North 

 America. The 

 swans are really only tamed wild kinds. Common spe- 

 cies are the white swan of Europe, Cygnus olor, the black 

 swan of New Holland, Cygnus atratus, and the black- 

 necked swan of South America, Cygnus nigricoUis. The 

 pheasants also are so far practically only partially tamed wild 

 species, whose eggs however, are usually hatched under 

 turkeys. Most of the kinds kept are from the Orient. 



Canary birds are descended from the wild species, Frin- 

 gilla canariensis of the Canary Islands. But there has been 

 some crossing of them with other species of wild birds, 



Fig. 14S. 

 steppes, 



The wild sheep of the Trans-Caspian 

 Ovis arkal. (After Keller.) 



