THE DETERMINATION OF SEX. 



35 



some breeders of stock and birds, but is denied by other practical 

 authorities, and directly contradicted by the recent statistics of Stieda, 

 from Alsace-Lorraine, and of Berner, from Scandinavia. 



The above table (in its upper part taken mainly from Hensen, after 

 GLsterlen) shows vividly how much the results of Stieda and Berner 

 conflict with the law of Hofacker and Sadler. In regard to Berner's 

 statistics, it ought to be further noted that the figures quoted refer to cases 

 where the father or mother is only from I to 10 years the older. If the 

 father be more than ten years older, the male majority is 103.54 ; if the 

 mother be more than ten years older, the proportion is 104.10 again, 

 against Hofacker's and Sadler's conclusion. Compared with the above 

 human statistics, Schlechter's results in regard to horses also militate 

 against the alleged law. 



In regard to plants, various naturalists have drawn attention to the 

 influence of age upon sex. The following observations are quoted by 



