SEX. 321 



setts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Michigan, dur- 

 ing a series of years, as compiled by Dr. Baker, show 

 that in 133 cases, of from 1,300 to 38,259 births ac- 

 cording to year and locality, an increase in the birth- 

 rate gave a decreased proportion of males, or a de- 

 crease in the birth-rate gave an increase of males; 

 while 48 cases, on the same basis, were exceptional 

 and 7 doubtful. 1 



Statistics of the births for 1862-'65 inclusive, in 

 the same localities, show an increase of males, with a 

 decreased birth-rate, resulting from the war, with the 

 single exception of Connecticut, where there was a 

 slight decrease in male births and an increased birth- 

 rate. 2 



In these cases, it should be observed, the increase 

 or decrease in the proportion of males seems to be asso- 

 ciated with a decrease or increase of the birth-rate when 

 compared with the average for the locality ; that is to 

 say, the causes that apparently diminish or increase 

 the birth-rate in a given locality seem likewise to in- 

 crease or diminish the proportion of males in that 

 locality. 



It does not, however, follow from this that, in 

 cases of remarkable fecundity, either of individuals or 

 communities, there should be an excessive predomi- 

 nance of females, or that an unusual excess in the pro- 

 portion of males is to be found in cases in which there 

 is a lack of fecundity, as the conditions involved in 

 such cases may be quite different from those that pro- 



1 Michigan "Fifth Registration Report," 1871, pp. 104-110. 



2 Ibid., 1871, p. 111. 



