8 STATISTICS OF SEX 



Births. Registration. Total. 



Male 13,526 136,350 



Female 13,244 136,625 



The registration record shows a preponderance of males less than one- 

 half that of the Semitic race ; the census enumeration an actual prepon- 

 derance of female births. 



The census tables also give the number of negro children of each of 

 certain ages at a number of very early ages. 



From the census of 1900 we find negro children : 



Age. Male. Female. 



Under one month 10,200 10,322 



Under three months 32,840 33,353 



Under one year 121,329 123,181 



It is difficult to conceive of any cause why the data given to a census 

 taker should be systematically in error as to sex. The number under the 

 age of one month can be nothing else than the number born during that 

 month, less the deaths during the month. If, then, the preponderance 

 of male deaths is no greater in the negro than in the white race, it would 

 seem that an excess of male births does not characterize the negro race, 

 but rather the contrary. Moreover, the uniformity of the excess through- 

 out the first year seems to confirm this conclusion. I find it also to be 

 confirmed by all the statistics of previous censuses since 1870. There is, 

 in general, in all these cases, a slight excess of female negro or colored 

 children under one month of age, which is greater than would be due 

 to the excess of male over female deaths during the early period of life. 



On the other hand, the recent Japanese census shows, in a number 

 of births exceeding one million, an excess of males practically the same 

 as in European countries. It would seem therefore that there is no 

 difference in this respect between the Semitic and the Mongolian races. 



As the numbers relating to the negro race in America are not beyond 

 the possibility of doubt, and especially as those of actual births regis- 

 tered show a male excess, the suspicion, sometimes expressed, that this 

 excess may run through the whole order of mammals is at least worthy 

 of examination. But the statistics of horses kept with much detail in 

 England and Germany show, on the whole, an almost equal division 

 between the sexes, the general tendency being toward a preponderance on 

 the female side. 



It is also a curious fact that in European countries where complete 

 statistics arc available, the excess of male births is smaller for illegiti- 

 mate than for legitimate children. The problem of explaining this 

 difference, which we can scarcely believe to be real, is one which the 

 writer must leave in others. 



