308 SEXUAL SELECTION: MAN [Pari II, 



fact is analogous with what occurs with some allied mon- 

 keys ; thus the sexes of the chimpanzee are not as different 

 as those of the gorilla^ or orang. 20 



In the pre\ious chapters we have seen that with mam- 

 mals, birds, fishes, insects, etc., many characters, which 

 there is every reason to believe were primarily gained 

 through sexual selection by one sex alone, have been trans- 

 ferred to both sexes. As this same form of transmission 

 has apparently prevailed to a large extent with mankind, 

 it will save much useless repetition if we consider the 

 characters peculiar to the male sex together with certain 

 other characters common to both sexes. 



Law of Battle. — With barbarous nations, for instance 

 with the Australians, the women are the constant cause" of 

 war both between the individuals of the same tribe and 

 between distinct tribes. So no doubt it was in ancien* 

 times ; " nam fait ante Helenam mulier tetcrrima beUi 

 causa." With the North American Indians, the contest 

 is reduced to a system. That excellent observer, Hearne, 21 

 says : "It has ever been the custom among these people 

 for the men to wrestle for any woman to whom they are 

 attached ; and, of course, the strongest party always car- 

 ries off the prize. A weak man, unless he be a good hunt- 

 er, and well-beloved, is seldom permitted to keep a wife 

 that a stronger man thinks worth his notice. This custom 

 prevails throughout all the tribes, and causes a great spirit 

 of emulation among their youth, who are upon all oc- 



tne sexes of the American Indians differ less than those of the negroes 

 and of the higher races. See also Rengger, ibid. p. 3, on the Guaranys. 



20 RUtimeyer, ' Die Grenzen der Thierwelt ; eine Betrachtung zu Dar- 

 win's Lehre,' 1868, s. 54. 



21 'A Journey from Prince of Wales Fort,' 8vo edit. Dublin, 1796, 

 p. 104. Sir J. Lubbock (' Origin of Civilization,' 18*70, p. 69) gives other 

 and similar cases in North America. For the Guanas of South America 

 see Azara, ' Voyages,' etc., torn. ii. p. 94. 



