INHERITED INJURIES. in 



The narrowness seems to be a mainly relative or 

 negative effect produced by the broadening out 

 of a long tapering feather at its end under the 

 influence of sexual selection. Several other birds 

 have similarly narrowed or spoon-shaped feathers 

 and do not bite them. Is it not more feasible to 

 suppose that this attractive peculiarity first sug- 

 gested its artificial intensification, than to suppose 

 that the bird began nibbling without any definite 

 cause ? Sexual selection would then encourage 

 the habit. Anyhow, it is as impossible to show 

 that the mutilation preceded the narrowing as it 

 is to show that tonsure preceded baldness. 



OTHER INHERITED INJURIES MENTIONED BY 

 DARWIN. 



Darwin quotes some cases from Dr. Prosper 

 Lucas's " long " but weak and unsatisfactory " list 



