one particular, they were not over cleanly, and ate whatever came
in their way. Large cat-like animals and the wolf-like ancestors of
the dog might also be met about human habitations. The Toltec carts
appear to have been drawn by creatures somewhat resembling small
camels. The Peruvian llamas of to-day are probably their descendants.
The ancestors of the Irish elk, too, roamed in herds about the hill
sides in much the same way as our Highland cattle do now--too wild to
allow of easy approach, but still under the control of man.

Constant experiments were made in breeding and cross-breeding
different kinds of animals, and, curious though it may seem to us,
artificial heat was largely used to force their development, so that
the results of crossing and interbreeding might be more quickly
apparent. The use, too, of different coloured lights in the chambers
where such experiments were carried on were adopted in order to obtain
varying results.

This control and moulding at will by man of the animal forms brings us
to a rather startling and very mysterious subject. Reference has been
made above to the work done by the Manus. Now it is in the mind of
the Manu that originates all improvements in type and the
potentialities latent in every form of being. In order to work out in
detail the improvements in the animal forms, the help and co-operation
of man were required. The amphibian and reptile forms which then
abounded had about run their course, and were ready to assume the more
advanced type of bird or mammal. These forms constituted the inchoate
material placed at man's disposal, and the clay was ready to assume
whatever shape the potter's hands might mould it into. It was
specially with animals in the intermediate stage that so many of the
experiments above referred to were tried, and doubtless the
domesticated animals like the horse, which are now of such service to
man, are the result of these experiments in which the men of those
days acted in co-operation with the Manu and his ministers. But the
co-operation was too soon withdrawn. Selfishness obtained the upper
hand, and war and discord brought the Golden Age of the Toltecs to a
close. When instead of working loyally for a common end, under the
guidance of their Initiate kings, men began to prey upon each other,
the beasts which might gradually have assumed, under the care of man,
more and more useful and domesticated forms, being left to the
guidance of their own