PROPORTION OF THE SEXES. 623 



Males. Females. otal. 



From 16 to 17 inches* (French) .2 4 6 



- 17 to 18 .... 8 19 27 



- 18 to 19 .... 28 18 46 



- 19 to 20 .... 12 8 20 



- 20 to 21 . 1 i 



From these observations, the mean and the extremes of the Lengths of the 

 Male and Female respectively, were calculated to be, 



Males. Females. 



Minimum . . 16 inches, 2 lines 16 inches, 2 lines 



Mean . 18 6 18 1 



Maximum 19 8 20 6 



Notwithstanding that the maximum is here on the side of the Female (this 

 being an accidental result, which would probably have been otherwise, had a 

 larger number been examined), the average shows a difference of 4 5 lines in 

 favour of the Male. The inequality in the Weight of the two is even more 

 remarkable ; the observations of M. Quetelett were made upon 63 male and 

 56 female infants. 



Infants weighing from. Males. Females. Total. 



1 to H kilog4 ... 1 1 

 1| to 2 1 1 



2 to 2 3 7 10 



2 to 3 13 14 27 



3 to 3 . . " . . .28 23 51 

 3 to 4 14 7 21 



4 to 4 5 3 8 



The extremes and means were as follows :~ 



Males. Females. 

 Minimum .... 2-34 kilog. 1-12 



Mean 3-20 2-91 



Maximum .... 4-50 4-25 



The average weight of infants of both sexes, as determined by these inquiries, 

 is 3-05 kilog. or 6-7 Ibs. ; and this corresponds almost exactly with the state- 

 ment of Chaussier, whose observations were made upon more than 20,000 

 infants. The mean obtained by him, without reference to distinction of sex, 

 was 6-75 Ibs. ; the maximum being 11-3 Ibs., and the minimum 3*2 lbs. The 

 average in this country is probably rather higher ; according to Dr. Joseph 

 Clarke, || whose inquiries were made on 60 males and 60 females, the average 

 of Male children is 7| Ibs. : and that of Females 6 Ibs. He adds that children 

 which at the full time weigh less than 5 Ibs. rarely thrive ; being generally 

 feeble in their actions, and dying within a short time. Several instances are 

 on record, of infants whose weight at birth exceeded 15 Ibs. It appears that 

 healthy females, living in the country, and engaged in active but not over- 

 fatiguing occupations, have generally the largest children ; and this is what 

 might be expected a priori, from the superior activity of their nutritive 

 functions. 



* The French inch is about one-fifteenth more than the English, 

 f Op. cit. torn. ii. p. 35. 



* The kilogramme is equal to 2 Ibs. avoirdupois. 



These numbers have been erroneously stated in many Physiological works; owing 

 to the difference between the French and English pound not having been allowed for. 

 || Philosophical Transactions, vol. Ixxvi. 



