DR. ERASMUS DARWIN. 40 



here almost a simplicity of cunning that must defeat 

 itself ; to what end a provision to foin, if it is at once 

 met by a precaution to foil ! And which is first, or, rather, 

 which was first ? (Or have both been, mischievously, 

 co-determined by a mere amateur of fencing ? !) " The 

 birds which do not carry their food to their young, and 

 do not therefore marry, are armed with spurs for the pur- 

 pose of fighting as cocks and quails. It is certain that 

 these weapons are not provided for their defence against 

 other adversaries, because the females of these species 

 are without this armour." This needs an explanatory 

 word, but it can only mean : The cock does not marry 

 in the sense of pairing (Chaunteclere will have nothing 

 less than a harem of Pertelottes) ; but against external 

 adversaries he could not possibly defend them all ; and 

 if his spurs were a defence of that kind, the females for 

 success would require to be similarly armed too. That 

 they are not so armed shows plainly that the spurs of 

 their sultan are only meant to secure his cortege from 

 the approaches of any other marauding sultan. " TJw 

 final cause of this contest amongst tJie males," it is added 

 (p. 179), "seems to be that the strongest and most active 

 animal should propagate the. species, which should theiw 

 become improved." And this is as plain a reference in 

 Erasmus, as any in Charles, to " the survival of the 

 fittest." 



