Chap. i. Character of Domestic Varieties. 1 3, 



amount of difference between the several breeds of the dog has been 

 produced under domestication ; 1 believe that a small part of the 

 difference is due to their being descended from distinct species. In 

 the case of strongly marked races of some other domesticated 

 species, there is presumptive or even strong evidence, that all are 

 descended from a single wild stock. 



It has often been assumed that man has chosen for domestica- 

 tion animals and plants having an extraordinary inherent tendency 

 to vary, and likewise to withstand diverse climates. I do not dispute 

 that these capacities have added largely to the value of most of our 

 domesticated productions ; but how could a savage possibly know, 

 when he first tamed an animal, whether it would vary in succeeding 

 generations, and whether it would endure other climates ? Has 

 the little variability of the ass and goose, or the small power of 

 endurance of warmth by the reindeer, or of cold by the common 

 camel, prevented their domestication? I cannot doubt that if" 

 other animals and plants, equal in number to our domesticated, 

 productions, and belonging to equally diverse classes and countries,, 

 were taken from a state of nature, and could be made to breed for 

 an equal number of generations under domestication, they would 

 on an average vary as largely as the parent species of our existing 

 domesticated productions have varied. 



In the case of most of our anciently domesticated animals and 

 plants, it is not possible to come to any definite conclusion, whether 

 they are descended from one or several wild species. The argument 

 mainly relied on by those who believe in the multiple origin of our 

 domestic animals is, that we find in the most ancient times, on the 

 monuments of Egypt, and in the lake-habitations of Switzerland, 

 much diversity in the breeds; and that some of these ancient 

 breeds closely resemble, or are even identical with, those still exist- 

 ing. But this only throws far backwards the history of civilisation,, 

 and shows that animals were domesticated at a much earlier period 

 than has hitherto been supposed. The lake-inhabitants of Swit- 

 zerland cultivated several kinds of wheat and barley, the pea, the 

 poppy for oil, and flax; and they possessed several domesticated 

 animals. They also carried on commerce with other nations. All 

 this clearly shows, as Heer has remarked, that they had at this- 

 early age progressed considerably in civilisation; and this as;ain 

 implies a long continued previous period of less advanced civilisation,, 

 during which the domesticated animals, kept by different tribes in 

 different districts, might have varied and given rise to distinct races.. 

 Fince the discovery of flint tools in the superficial formations of 

 many parts of the world, all geologists believe that barbarian man 



