This etext was prepared by Sue Asscher asschers@dingoblue.net.au
THE VARIATION OF
ANIMALS AND PLANTS
UNDER DOMESTICATION
BY
CHARLES DARWIN, M.A., F.R.S., ETC.
IN TWO VOLUMES
VOLUME I.
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
During the seven years which have elapsed since the publication in 1868 ofthe first edition of this Work, I have continued to attend to the samesubjects, as far as lay in my power; and I have thus accumulated a largebody of additional facts, chiefly through the kindness of manycorrespondents. Of these facts I have been able here to use only thosewhich seemed to me the more important. I have omitted some statements, andcorrected some errors, the discovery of which I owe to my reviewers. Manyadditional references have been given. The eleventh chapter, and that onPangenesis, are those which have been most altered, parts having been re-modelled; but I will give a list of the more important alterations for thesake of those who may possess the first edition of this book.
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER 1.I.
DOMESTIC DOGS AND CATS.
ANCIENT VARIETIES OF THE DOG—RESEMBLANCE OF DOMESTIC DOGS IN VARIOUSCOUNTRIES TO NATIVE CANINE SPECIES—ANIMALS NOT ACQUAINTED WITH MAN ATFIRST FEARLESS—DOGS RESEMBLING WOLVES AND JACKALS—HABIT OF BARKINGACQUIRED AND LOST—FERAL DOGS—TAN-COLOURED EYE-SPOTS—PERIOD OF GESTATION--OFFENSIVE ODOUR—FERTILITY OF THE RACES WHEN CROSSED—DIFFERENCES IN THESEVERAL RACES IN PART DUE TO DESCENT FROM DISTINCT SPECIES—DIFFERENCES INTHE SKULL AND TEETH—DIFFERENCES IN THE BODY, IN CONSTITUTION—FEWIMPORTANT DIFFERENCES HAVE BEEN FIXED BY SELECTION—DIRECT ACTION OFCLIMATE—WATER-DOGS WITH PALMATED FEET—HISTORY OF THE CHANGES WHICHCERTAIN ENGLISH RACES OF THE DOG HAVE GRADUALLY UNDERGONE THROUGHSELECTION—EXTINCTION OF THE LESS IMPROVED SUB-BREEDS.
CATS, CROSSED WITH SEVERAL SPECIES—DIFFERENT BREEDS FOUND ONLY INSEPARATED COUNTRIES—DIRECT EFFECTS OF THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE—FERAL CATS—INDIVIDUAL VARIABILITY.
CHAPTER 1.II.
HORSES AND ASSES.
HORSE—DIFFERENCES IN THE BREEDS—INDIVIDUAL VARIABILITY OF—DIRECT EFFECTSOF THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE—CAN WITHSTAND MUCH COLD—BREEDS MUCH MODIFIED BYSELECTION—COLOURS OF THE HORSE—DAPPLING—DARK STRIPES ON THE SPINE, LEGS,SHOULDERS, AND FOREHEAD—DUN-COLOURED HORSES MOST FREQUENTLY STRIPED—STRIPES PROBABLY DUE TO REVERSION TO THE PRIMITIVE STATE OF THE HORSE.
ASSES—BREEDS OF—COLOUR OF—LEG- AND SHOULDER-STRIPES—SHOULDER-STRIPESSOMETIMES ABSENT, SOMETIMES FORKED.
CHAPTER 1.III.
PIGS—CATTLE—SHEEP—GOATS.
PIGS BELONG TO TWO DISTINCT TYPES, SUS SCROFA AND INDICUS—TORFSCHWEIN—JAPAN PIGS—FERTILITY OF CROSSED PIGS—CHANGES IN THE SKULL OF THE HIGHLYCULTIVATED RACES—CONVERGENCE OF CHARACTER—GESTATION—SOLID-HOOFED SWINE—CURIOUS APPENDAGES TO THE JAWS—DECREASE IN SIZE OF THE TUSKS—YOUNG PIGSLONGITUDINALLY STRIPED—FERAL PIGS—CROSSED BREEDS.
CATTLE—ZEBU A DISTINCT SPECIES—EUROPEAN CATTLE PROBABLY DESCENDED FROMTHREE WILD FORMS—ALL THE RACES NOW FERTILE TOGETHER—BRITISH PARK CATTLE—ON THE COLOUR OF THE ABORIGINAL SPECIES—CONSTITUTIONAL DIFFERENCES—SOUTHAFRICAN RACES—SOUTH AMERICAN RACES—NIATA CATTLE—ORIGIN OF THE VARIOUSRACES OF CATTLE.