Chap. VIII. Proportion of the Sexes. 247 



calves ; i.e., iu the proportion of 91*4 males to 100 females. The Rev. 

 W. D. Fox informs me that in 1867 out of H4 calves bom on a farm in 

 Derbyshire only one was a bull. Mr. Harrison Weir has enquired from 

 several breeders of Pigs, and most of them estimate the male to the 

 female births as about 7 to 0. This same gentleman has bred Babbits 

 for many years, and has noticed that a far greater number of bucks are 

 produced than does. But estimations are of little value. 



Of mammalia in a state of nature I have been able to learn very 

 little. In regard to the common rat, I have received conflicting 

 statements. Mr. R. Elliot, of Lnighwood, informs me that a rat-catcher 

 assured him that he had always found the males in great excess, even 

 with the young in the nest. In consequence of this, Mr. Elliot 

 himself subsequently examined some hundred old ones, and found the 

 statement true. Mr. F. Buckland has bred a large number of white 

 rats, and he also believes that the males greatly exceed the females. 

 In regard to Moles, it is said that " the males are much more numerous 

 " than the females ;" 60 and as the catching of these animals is a special 

 occupation, the statement may perhaps be trusted. Sir A. Smith, in 

 describing an antelope of S. Afiica 61 (Kobus Jlipsiprymnus), remarks, 

 that in the herds of this and other species, the males are few in number 

 compared with the females : the natives believe that they are born in 

 this proportion ; others believe that the younger males are expelled 

 from the herds, and Sir A. Smith says, that though he has himself 

 never seen herds consisting of young males alone, others affirm that 

 this does occur. It appears probable that the young when expelled 

 from the herd, would often fall a prey to the many beasts of prey of the 

 country. 



BIRDS. 



With respect to the Foivl, I have received only one account, namely, 

 that out of 1001 chickens of a highly-bred stock of Cochins, reared 

 during eight years by Mr. Stretch, 487 proved males and 514 females; 

 i.e., as 94*7 to 100. In regard to domestic pigeons tl ere is good 

 evidence either that the males are produced in excess, or that they live 

 longer; for these birds invariably pair, and single males, as Mr. Teget- 

 meier informs me, can always be purchased cheaper than females. 

 Usually the two birds reared from the two eggs laid in the same nest 

 are a male and a female ; but Mr. Harrison Weir, who has been so large 

 a breeder, says that he has often bred two cocks from the same nest-, 

 and seldom two hens ; moreover, the hen is generally the weaker of the 

 two, and more liable to perish. 



With respect to birds in a state of nature, Mr. Gould and others 62 

 are convinced that the males are generally the more numerous ; and 

 as the young males of many species resemble the females, the latter 

 would naturally appear to be the more numerous. Large numbers of 

 pheasants are reared by Mr. Baker of Leadenhall from eggs laid by wild 

 birds, and he informs Mr. Jenner Weir that four or five males to one 

 female are generally produced. An experienced observer remarks. 67 



60 Bell, ' History of British Quad- iv. s. 990) comes to the same con- 

 rupeds,' p. 100. elusion. 



61 ' Illustrations of the Zoology 63 On the authority of L. Lloyd, 

 cf S. Africa,' 1849, pi. 29. ' Game Birds of Sweden,' 1867, pp 



« Brehm (' Most. Thierlebon,' B. 12, 132 



