280 Human Physiology. 



Mahomedan countries, in the common practice of married men 

 keeping mistresses, or engaging in amours ; and polyandry is 

 a formal institution in the prostitution tolerated, and more or 

 less regulated, in almost every Christian country. 



Among insects and animals, we have the types of all kinds 

 of human sexual relations, under the law of instinct, and with- 

 out depravities or disorders. Potygamy prevails extensively 

 among gregarious birds, horses, cattle, sheep, sea-lions, sea- 

 bears, seals, &c. Polyandry is found among insects, notably 

 among bees where a single female in a hive has several hundred 

 males to choose from ; but it does not appear that she ever 

 calls upon more than one of them to perform the act of impreg- 

 nation. Monogamy, or the mating of single pairs, is the law 

 among a vast number of birds and animals, sometimes for a 

 single season, sometimes for life. There are also insects and 

 animals which meet casually, and seem to have no permanent 

 relations. 



The relations of the sexes among animals seem to be deter- 

 mined chiefly by the requirements of their offspring. Where a 

 riest is to be built and a young family fed for a considerable 

 period, the male and female mate, work, watch, and care for 

 them together. Where the young brood is able, on coming 

 from the shell, to go about like chickens or swim like ducks, 

 the female is able to take care of her young without assistance. 

 Where the proportion of females to males is very large 

 polygamy is the evident law. 



In the human race all circumstances point to monogamy as 

 the law, or natural condition. Males and females are born in 

 almost exactly equal numbers. If there are two or three per 

 cent, more of males than females, the risks of life with males 

 soon make the number even. Therefore, as a rule, no man 

 can have more than one wife without robbing his neighboui 

 Polygamy is therefore a manifest injustice, and may become 

 the most grievous of all monopolies. 



