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 a 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 existing. 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 Switzerland 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 again 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. Since the discovery of flint tools in the superficial formations of many parts of the world, all geologists believe that barbarian man existed at an enormously remote period; and we know that at the present day there is hardly a tribe so barbarous, as not to have domesticated at least the dog.

The origin of most of our domestic animals will probably for ever remain vague. But I may here state, that, looking to the domestic dogs of the whole world, I have, after a laborious collection of all known facts, come to the conclusion that several wild species of Canidae have been tamed, and that their blood, in some cases mingled together, flows in the veins of our domestic breeds. In regard to sheep and goats I can form no decided opinion. From facts communicated to me by Mr. Blyth, on the habits, voice, constitution, and structure of the humped Indian cattle, it is almost certain that they are descended from a different aboriginal stock from our European cattle; and some competent judges believe that these latter have had two or three wild progenitors,-whether or not these deserve to be called species. This conclusion, as well as that of the specific distinction between the humped and common cattle, may, indeed, be looked upon as established by the admirable researches of Professor Rütimeyer. With respect to horses, from reasons which I cannot here give, I am doubtfully inclined to believe, in opposition to several authors, that all the races belong to the same species. Having kept nearly all the English breeds of the fowl alive, having

know, when he first tamed an an vary in succeeding generations, endure other climates? Has t the ass and goose, or the small warmth by the reindeer, or of camel, prevented their domestic that if other animals and plan our domesticated productions, an diverse classes and countries, wi of nature, and could be made number of generations under dom on a average vary as largely as the existing domesticated productions

In the case of most of our and animals and plants, it is not possib definite conclusion, whether they an one or several wild species. The a relied on by those who believe in the m our domestic animals is, that we find ancient times, on the monuments of Eg lake-habitations of Switzerland, much div breeds; and that some of these ancient br resemble, or are even identical with, those st But this only throws far backwards the civilisation, and shows that animals were don at a much earlier period than has hitherto been s The lake-inhabitants of Switzerland cultivated kinds of wheat and barley, the pea, the poppy t and flax; and they possessed several domesti animals. They also carried on commerce with of nations. All this clearly shows, as Heer has remark that they had at this early age progressed considerabl in civilisation; and this again implies a long continued

een loosely said that all our races of dogs roduced by the crossing of a few aboriginal

by crossing we can only get forms in some mediate between their parents; and if we our several domestic races by this process, nit the former existence of the most extreme Italian greyhound, bloodhound, bull-dog, wild state. Moreover, the possibility of inct races by crossing has been greatly Many cases are on record, showing that a modified by occasional crosses, if aided by lection of the individuals which present racter; but to obtain a race intermediate te distinct races, would be very difficult. pressly experimented with this object ffspring from the first cross between tolerably and sometimes (as I have quite uniform in character, and ple enough; but when these

are the

bred and crossed them, and examined their skeletons, it appears to me almost certain that all descendants of the wild Indian fowl, Gallus bankiva; and this is the conclusion of Mr. Blyth, and of others who have studied this bird in India. In regard to ducks and rabbits, some breeds of which differ much from each other, the evidence is clear that they are all descended from the common wild duck and rabbit.

The doctrine of the origin of our several domestic races from several aboriginal stocks, has been carried to an absurd extreme by some authors. They believe that every race which breeds true, let the distinctive characters be ever so slight, has had its wild prototype. At this rate there must have existed at least a score of species of wild cattle, as many sheep, and several goats, in Europe alone, and several even within Great Britain. One author believes that there formerly existed eleven wild species of sheep peculiar to Great Britain! When we bear in mind that Britain has now not one peculiar mammal, and France but few distinct from those of Germany, and so with Hungary, Spain, &c., but that each of these kingdoms possesses several peculiar breeds of cattle, sheep, &c., we must admit that many domestic breeds must have originated in Europe; for whence otherwise could they have been derived? So it is in India. Even in the case of the breeds of the domestic dog throughout the world, which I admit are descended from several wild species, it cannot be doubted that there has been an immense amount of inherited variation; for who will believe that animals closely resembling the Italian greyhound, the bloodhound, the bull-dog, pug-dog, or Blenheim spaniel, &c.-so unlike all wild Canida-ever existed in a state of nature? It