Seite - 35 - in The Origin of Species
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CHARACTER OF DOMESTIC VARIETIES 35
tions 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 con-
clusion, 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 ex-
isting. 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 prob-
ably 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 Canidc'c 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, con-
stitution, and structure of the humped Indian cattle, it is
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Buch The Origin of Species"
The Origin of Species
- Titel
- The Origin of Species
- Autor
- Charles Darwin
- Verlag
- P. F. Collier & Son
- Ort
- New York
- Datum
- 1909
- Sprache
- englisch
- Lizenz
- PD
- Abmessungen
- 10.5 x 16.4 cm
- Seiten
- 568
- Schlagwörter
- Evolutionstheorie, Evolution, Theory of Evolution, Naturwissenschaft, Natural Sciences
- Kategorien
- International
- Naturwissenschaften Biologie
Inhaltsverzeichnis
- EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION 5
- AN HISTORICAL SKETCH of the Progress of Opinion on the Origin of Species 9
- INTRODUCTION 21
- Variation under Domestication 25
- Variation under Nature 58
- Struggle for Existence 76
- Natural Selection; or the Survival of the Fittest 93
- Laws of Variation 145
- Difficulties of the Theory 178
- Miscellaneous Objections to the Theory of Natural Selection 219
- Instinct 262
- Hybridism 298
- On the Imperfection of the Geological Record 333
- On the Geological Succession of Organic Beinss 364
- Geographical Distribution 395
- Geographical Distribution - continued 427
- Mutual Affinities of Organic Beings: Morphology: Embryology: Rudimentary Organs 450
- Recapitulation and Conclusion 499
- GLOSSARY 531
- INDEX 541