The principle of selection I find distinctly given in an ancient Chinese encyclopaedia.

Explicit rules are laid down by some of the Roman classical writers.

From passages in Genesis, it is clear that the colour of domestic animals was at that early period attended to.
Savages now sometimes cross their dogs with wild canine animals, to improve the breed, and they formerly did so, as is attested by passages in Pliny.

The savages in South Africa match their draught cattle by colour, as do some of the Esquimaux their teams of dogs.

Livingstone states that good domestic breeds are highly valued by the negroes in the interior of Africa who have not associated with Europeans.