266 THE HISTORY OF CREATION, 



selection which takes place in the propagation of animals. 

 In most animals the number of individuals of both sexes is 

 unequal ; either the number of the female or the number 

 of the male individuals is greater, and, as a rule, when 

 the season of propagation approaches, a struggle takes 

 place between the rivals for the possession of the animals 

 of the other sex. It is well known with what vigour and 

 vehemence this struggle is fought out among the higher 

 animals — among mammals and birds — especially among those 

 of polygamous habits. Among gallinaceous birds, where for 

 one cock there are several hens, a severe struggle takes place 

 between the competing cocks for as large a harem as possible. 

 The same is the case with many ruminating animals. 

 Among stags and deer, for instance, at the period of rut, 

 deadly struggles take place between the males for the 

 possession of the females. The secondary sexual character 

 which here distinguishes the males — the antlers of stags 

 and deer — not possessed by the female, is, according to 

 Darwin, the consequence of that struggle. Here the motive 

 and cause determining the struggle is not, as in the case of 

 the struggle for individual existence, self-preservation, but 

 the preservation of the species — propagation. There are 

 numerous passive weapons of defence, as well as active 

 weapons for attack. The lion's mane, not possessed by the 

 female, is evidently such a weapon of defence; it is an 

 excellent means of protection against the bites which the 

 male lions try to inflict on each other's necks when fighting 

 for the females ; consequently those males with the strongest 

 manes have the greatest advantage in the sexual struggle. 

 The dewlap of the ox and the comb of the cock are similar 

 defensive weapons. Active weapons of attack, on the other 



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