The Descent of Man

tes, that in districts where foxes are much hunted,
the young, on first leaving their burrows,
are incontestably much more wary than the old
ones in districts where they are not much disturbed.
Our domestic dogs are descended from wolves
and jackals (35. See the evidence on this head in
chap. i. vol. i., 'On the Variation of Animals and
Plants under Domestication.'), and though they
may not have gained in cunning, and may have
lost in wariness and suspicion, yet they have
progressed in certain moral qualities, such as in
affection, trust- worthiness, temper, and probably
in general intelligence. The common rat has
conquered and beaten several other species
throughout Europe, in parts of North America,
New Zealand, and recently in Formosa, as well
as on the mainland of China. Mr. Swinhoe (36.
'Proceedings Zoological Society,' 1864, p. 186.),
who describes these two latter cases, attributes
the victory of the common rat over the large