242 DARWINISM STATED BY DARWIN HIMSELF. 



in the other species in which the male alone bears horns 

 — we may conclude that one, though not the sole cause of 

 characters being exclusively inherited by one sex, is their 

 development at a late age. And, secondly, that one, 

 though apparently a less efficient cause of characters be- 

 ing inherited by both sexes, is their development at an 

 early age, while the sexes differ but little in constitution. 

 It appears, however, that some difference must exist 

 between the sexes even during a very early embryonic 

 period, for characters developed at this age not rarely 

 become attached to one sex. 



AN OBJECTION ANSWERED. 



Descent Several writers have objected to the whole 



°a«^495 theory of sexual selection, by assuming that 

 with animals and savages the taste of the fe- 

 male for certain colors or other ornaments would not re- 

 main constant for many generations ; that first one color 

 and then another would be admired, and consequently 

 that no permanent effect could be produced. We may 

 admit that taste is fluctuating, but it is not quite arbi- 

 trary. It depends much on habit, as we see in mankind ; 

 and we may infer that this would hold good with birds 

 and other animals. Even in our own dress, the general 

 character lasts long, and the changes are to a certain ex- 

 tent graduated. Abundant evidence will be given in two 

 places in a future chapter, that savages of many races 

 have admired for many generations the same cicatrices on 

 the skin, the same hideously perforated lips, nostrils, or 

 ears, distorted heads, etc. ; and these deformities present 

 some analogy to the natural ornaments of various animals. 

 Nevertheless, with savages such fashions do not endure 

 forever, as we may infer from the differences in this re- 



