Chap. VIII. SEXUAL SELECTION. 301 



the mean proportion of male to female births, during 

 the whole period of the above ten years, was as 102*8 

 to 100 ; whilst in N. Wales (where the average annual 

 births are 12,873) it was as high as 106*2 to 100. 

 Taking a still smaller district, viz., Rutlandshire (where 

 the annual births average only 739), in 1864 the male 

 births were as 114-6, and in 1862 as 97'0 to 100; but 

 even in this small district the average of the 7385 

 births during the whole ten years was as 104*5 to 100; 

 that is in the same ratio as throughout England. 32 

 The proportions are sometimes slightly disturbed by 

 unknown causes ; thus Prof. Faye states " that in 

 " some districts of Norway there has been during a 

 " decennial period a steady deficiency of boys, whilst 

 " in others the opposite condition has existed." In 

 France during forty-four years the male to the female 

 births have been as 106*2 to 100 ; but during this 

 period it has occurred five times in one department, 

 and six times in another, that the female births have 

 exceeded the males. In Russia the average proportion 

 is as high as 108*9 to 100. 33 It is a singular fact that 

 with Jews the proportion of male births is decidedly 

 larger than with Christians : thus in Prussia the propor- 

 tion is as 113, in Breslau as 114, and in Livonia as 120 

 to 100 ; the Christian births in these countries being 

 the same as usual, for instance, in Livonia as 104 to 

 100. 34 It is a still more singular fact that in different 

 nations, under different conditions and climates, in 

 Naples, Prussia, Westphalia, France and England, the 



32 ' Twenty-ninth Annual Report of the Registrar-General for 1866.' 

 In this report (p. xii) a special decennial table is given. 



33 For Norway unci Russia, see abstract of Pro!'. Faye's researches, 

 in ' British and Foreign Medieo-Cliirurg. Review/ April, 1867, p. 343, 

 345. For France, the ' Annuaire pour lAn 1867,' p. 213, 



34 In regard to the Jews, see M. Thury, ' La Loi de Production dcs 

 Sexes,' 1863, p. 25. 



