264 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



Jews: During 1897 there were recorded 115,344 Jewish births, of 

 which 66,03G were males and 49,308 were females, or 133.91 boys to 

 100 girls. But a careful study of these figures brings forth strong 

 suspicion as to their accuracy. Thus, when we examine the various 

 provinces we find great variations. In Taurida the ratio was only 

 106.15 boys to 100 girls; in Cherson, 112.15; in Poltava, 112.87; 

 while in Wilna it reached 177.47; in Grodno, 170.62; in Minsk, 165.45. 

 In general, it can be stated that in the southern provinces the excess 

 of males is not much larger among the Jewish population than among 

 the christians, while in the northwestern provinces the excess is very 

 high. That climatic conditions are not the cause is shown by the 

 fact that among the christians the excess of males is not much more 

 pronounced in the northwest than in the south. In Wilna it was 

 only 110 and in Grodno 112. Two provinces not far distant from 

 each other, like Wilna and Curland, show great differences in the 

 proportion of male births among the Jews — 172.8 in the former and 

 only 115.4 in the latter. Climatic conditions can not therefore be 

 considered. 



If the excess of males were really as large as the above figures 

 would seem to indicate, we should expect that the number of male 

 infants below one year of age would also be excessive among the Jews. 

 But from the census statistics of 1897 it is shown that it was only 

 104.21 boys to 100 girls below one year of age. The higher mortality 

 of male infants is not sufficient to account for the loss of so many 

 boys during the first year of their life. 



The only plausible explanation for this apparent excess is that 

 a large number of female births are not reported to the authorities by 

 the midwives and rabbis, who are expected to register each birth. The 

 birth of a boy in a Jewish family is accompanied by important 

 festivals and ceremonials, while the birth of a girl, particularly among 

 the poorer classes, is not considered of any special importance and is 

 not attended by any ceremonials. It is very dangerous in later life 

 for a boy who has not been registered at birth: he can not obtain 

 a passport, and may be drawn into military service unjustly. All this 

 brings it about that practically all the boys are registered, while a large 

 number of female births is missing from the registry books. That this 

 is the true explanation is seen from the fact that in 1893 the proportion 

 of male births was 145.9 to 100 females, while in 1899 it was only 

 130.6, indicating a more complete registration of female births in 

 recent years. 



If the excessive proportion of male births was a racial trait of the 

 Jews it would be expected that the same phenomenon should be ob- 

 served among Jews in other countries. But this is not the case. 

 In Warsaw, Poland, the ratio was in 1897 only 106 boys to 100 girls. 



