38 NO STRUGGLE NO SELECTION 



giving the corroborative testimony that, within their 

 precincts, all carnivorous males and all herbivorous 

 males of prolific species would devour their young as 

 soon as they are born, if they got the opportunity. 



" If the behaviour of the males in the Zoological 

 Gardens be accepted as revealing what happens in 

 their free state, then we have explained to us all that 

 was hitherto mysterious and inexplicable, even to 

 Darwin, in regard to the non-increase of carnivorous 

 animals in despite of their great reproductiveness. 



" We must take, too, into account the fact that it is 

 not in a few cases, or occasionally, that the propensity 

 of the male to devour the brood of the female 

 in prolific species is seen showing itself in the 

 Gardens, but universally over the whole range of 

 carnivorous species, and over the whole range of 

 prolific herbivorous species. I ask, Does not the 

 universality of the instinct displayed within the pre- 

 cincts of the Zoological Gardens, embracing every 

 prolific species of the vegetivora, but taking in no 

 other, proclaim that it is an ordinance of Nature 

 ruling as surely in their native haunts as in captivity ? 



" In the circumstances I must set down your 

 question as to the possibility of the propension of the 

 males to devour their young, in the Gardens, being 

 the effect of confinement, as having been made with- 

 out due reflection or consideration. Let me here 

 point out to you a rather curious result of my 

 inquiries at the Gardens. Darwin gives as a singular 

 effect of confinement, the fact that, while the carni- 



