The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication

What it is

Published in January 1868, this two-volume book by Charles Darwin gathers detailed evidence on the domestication of animals and plants, drawn in part from his long study of pigeon breeding. Its final chapters set out his theory of heredity, which he called pangenesis.

Why it matters

Darwin had promised in On the Origin of Species to later give the full evidence behind his conclusions, and this book was meant to deliver on that promise. He spent over thirteen years gathering material, corresponding with breeders, and experimenting himself. The book shows how much ordinary, practical knowledge from farmers and animal breeders fed into his scientific theories.

Look closer

• Why might studying pigeon breeding help Darwin think about evolution in the wild?
• What does the long, difficult writing process tell you about how scientific books get made?
• Darwin considered and then dropped a chapter on humans — why might he have been cautious about that topic?