WeRead Powered by ReaderPub
The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication cover

The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication

Chapter 5: PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION
Open in WeRead

About This Book

This work examines the variation of domesticated animals and plants, exploring how selective breeding and environmental factors influence their characteristics. It discusses various species, including dogs, cats, horses, pigs, and plants like wheat and apples, detailing their domestication history, individual variability, and the effects of climate and selection. The text highlights the relationship between domestic breeds and their wild ancestors, the impact of human intervention on their development, and the complexities of inheritance and variation. Through systematic analysis, it presents a comprehensive view of the biological principles underlying domestication and the evolution of cultivated species.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION

During the seven years which have elapsed since the publication in 1868 of the first edition of this Work, I have continued to attend to the same subjects, as far as lay in my power; and I have thus accumulated a large body of additional facts, chiefly through the kindness of many correspondents. Of these facts I have been able here to use only those which seemed to me the more important. I have omitted some statements, and corrected some errors, the discovery of which I owe to my reviewers. Many additional references have been given. The eleventh chapter, and that on Pangenesis, are those which have been most altered, parts having been remodelled; but I will give a list of the more important alterations for the sake of those who may possess the first edition of this book.

TABLE OF PRINCIPAL ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS IN SECOND EDITION

First
Edition
Vol. I
Second
Edition
Vol. I
                                     
Page Chapter  
34 I Dr. Burt Wilder’s observations on the brains of different breeds of the Dog.
38 I Degeneracy of Dogs imported into Guinea.
51 II Difference in the number of lumbar vertebræ in the races or species of the Horse.
102 III Hairy appendages to the throats of Goats.
162 V Sexual differences in colour in the domestic Pigeon.
217 VI Movements like those of the Tumbler-pigeon, caused by injury to the brain.
290 VIII Additional facts with respect to the Black-shouldered Peacock.
296 VIII Ancient selection of Gold-fish in China.
314 IX Major Hallett’s ‘Pedigree Wheat.’
326 IX The common radish descended from Raphanus raphanistrum.
374 XI Several additional cases of bud-variation given.
396 XI An abstract of all the cases recently published of graft-hybrids in the potato, together with a general summary on graft-hybridisation.
399 XI An erroneous statement with respect to the pollen of the date-palm affecting the fruit of the Chamærops omitted.
400 XI New cases of the direct action of pollen on the mother-plant.
404 XI Additional and remarkable instances of the actions of the male parent on the future progeny of the female.
Vol.II    
14 XII An erroneous statement corrected, with respect to the regrowth of supernumerary digits after amputation.
23 XII Additional facts with respect to the inherited effects of circumcision.
23 XII Dr. Brown-Séquard on the inherited effects of operations on the Guinea-pig.
24 XII Other cases of inherited mutilations.
  Vol. II  
43 XIII An additional case of reversion due to a cross.
72 XIV Inheritance as limited by sex.
105 XVI Two varieties of maize which cannot be crossed.
120 XVII Some additional facts on the advantages of cross-breeding in animals.
123 XVII Discussion on the effects of the close interbreeding in the case of man.
135
to
141
 
XVII
 
Additional cases of plants sterile with pollen from the same plant.
149 XVIII Mr. Sclater on the infertility of animals under confinement.
152 XVIII The Aperea a distinct species from the Guinea-pig.
230 XXI Prof. Jäger on hawks killing light-coloured pigeons.
273 XXIII Prof. Wisemann on the effects of isolation in the development of species.
281 XXIII The direct action of the conditions of life in causing variation.
317 XXIV Mr. Romanes on rudimentary parts.
324
to
328
 
XXV
 
Some additional cases of correlated variability.
339 XXVI On Geoffrey St. Hilaire’s law of “soi pour soi.”
357
to
404
 
XXVII
 
The chapter on Pangenesis has been largely altered and re-modelled; but the essential principles remain the same.