174 PROBLEMS OF EVOLUTION 



ful chiefly as a defence against rival lions who, if we except man, 

 are his only formidable foes. Among the carnivora in general, 

 monogamy prevails for a reason that is easily intelligible. Though 

 the young are not born helpless like human infants, yet they are 

 quite unable to hunt and kill for themselves. And this has 

 curbed the polygamous tendency that must otherwise have been 

 fostered by a warlike disposition and the possession of splendid 

 weapons. The seals, unlike the terrestrial carnivora, are great 

 polygamists. The males fight desperately, and the doughtiest 

 fighters collect around them harems that outnumber even those 

 of the ruminants. Here the explanation must be the same. 

 The young seal is able to catch fish for himself almost directly 

 he is weaned, with the help of a little teaching and encourage- 

 ment from his mother. 1 He preys upon creatures comparatively 

 low in the scale, not, like a leopard or a cheetah, on animals 

 protected by intelligence as well as speed. 



The rodents, with the possible exception of the common rat, 

 are monogamous. The young, born helpless, are hidden away 

 in holes or nests, and must have their food brought to them. 



Of the many species of monkeys, some are strictly mono- 

 gamous, while among others a male has several wives. Here, 

 as in other cases, I believe it will be found that the tendency to 

 polygamy is only kept in check by the difficulty of feeding the 

 young. When the difficulty is but slight, male self-assertiveness 

 soon puts an end to the pairing system. Polygamy, in fact, is 

 tolerated by the law of Natural Selection in those species, and 

 those only whose habits and environment render it possible. 

 When it is possible, it is also beneficial, since all but the few 

 most vigorous males are eliminated. This statement must, of 

 course, not be taken as referring to human society, where the 

 conditions are very different. 



1 See Mr Barrett Hamilton's paper on The Habits of the Northern Fur Seal in 

 Natural Science, July 1899. On p. 41 he describes the education of the young, 

 such as it is. There is apparently no need for much. 



