CHAP. X.] SEXUAL SELECTION. 307 



kind due to direct conflict, which, we before observed, must 

 rather be ranked as a kind of &quot; natural selection.&quot; Even with 

 regard to this, however, we may well hesitate, when Mr. 

 Darwin tells us, as he does, that, seeing the habitual contests 

 of the males, &quot; it is surprising that they have not generally 

 become, through the effects of sexual selection, larger and 

 stronger than the females ;&quot; and this the more as &quot; the males 

 suffer from their small size,&quot; being liable to be devoured by 

 the females of their own species&quot; (vol. ii. p. 7). The cases 

 cited by our author witli regard to fishes do not even tend 

 to prove the existence of sexual selection, and the same may 

 be said as to the numerous details given by him about reptiles 

 and amphibians. Nay, rather the facts are hostile to his views. 

 Thus he says himself, &quot; It is surprising that frogs and toads 

 should not have acquired more strongly-marked sexual dif 

 ferences ; for, though cold-blooded, their passions are strong&quot; 

 (vol. ii. p. 26). But he cites a fact, than which it would be 

 difficult to find one less favourable to his cause, seeing that 

 amphibians have some sexual characters after all. He adds : 

 &quot; Dr. Gunther informs me that he has several times found an 

 unfortunate female toad dead and smothered from having 

 been so closely embraced by three or four males.&quot; If female 

 selection was difficult in the case of the female salmon, it 

 must be admitted to have been singularly infelicitous to the 

 female toad. 



We may now notice some facts brought forward by Mr. 

 Darwin with regard to beasts. And first, as to the 

 existence of choice on the part of the females, it 

 must be noted that &quot; Mr. Blenkiron, the greatest breeder of 

 racehorses in the world, says that stallions are so frequently 

 capricious in their choice, rejecting one mare and without any 

 apparent cause taking to another, that various artifices have 

 to be habitually used.&quot; &quot;He has never known a mare to 

 reject a horse;&quot; though this has occurred in Mr. Wright s 

 stable. 



Mr. Darwin allows (vol. ii. p. 276) that the loud voice of 

 the stag is not due to sexual selection ; but some of the most 



x 2 



