246 THE DESCENT OF MAN. 



polygamous.* Little is known on this head with respect to 

 most other monkeys, but some species are strictly monogav 

 mous. The ruminants are eminently polygamous, and they 

 present sexual differences more frequently than almost any 

 other group of mammals; this holds good, especially in 

 their weapons, but also in other characters. Most deer, 

 cattle, and sheep are polygamous; as are most antelopes, 

 though some are monogamous. Sir Andrew Smith, in 

 speaking of the antelopes of S. Africa, says that in 

 herds of about a dozen there was rarely more than one 

 mature male. The Asiatic Antilope saiga appears to be the 

 most inordinate polygamist in the world; for Pallasf states 

 that the male drives away all rivals and collects a herd of 

 about a hundred females and kids together; the female is 

 hornless and has softer hair, but does not otherwise differ 

 much from the male. The wild horse of the Falkland 

 Islands and of the Western States of North America is 

 polygamous, but, except in his greater size and the propor- 

 tions of his body, differs but little from the mare. The 

 wild boar presents well-marked sexual characters, in his 

 great tusks and some other points. In Europe and in India 

 he leads a solitary life, except during the breeding-season ; 

 but as is believed by Sir W. Elliot, who has had many 

 opportunities in India of observing this animal, he consorts 

 at this season with several females. Whether this holds 

 good in Europe is doubtful, but it is supported by some 

 evidence. The adult male Indian elephant, like the boar, 

 passes much of his time in solitude; but as Dr. Campbell 

 states, when with others, " it is rare to find more than one 

 male with a whole herd of females ;" the larger males 

 expelling or killing the smaller and weaker ones. The 

 male differs from the female in his immense tusks, greater 

 size, strength and endurance; so great is the difference in 

 these respects, that the males when caught are valued at 



*On the Gorilla, Savage and Wynian, "Boston Journal of Nat. 

 Hist.," vol. v, 1845-47, p. 423. On Cynocephalus, Brehiii, " Illust. 

 Thierleben," B.i, 1864, s. 77. On Mycetes, Rengger, " Naturgescli.: 

 Saugethiere von Paraguay," 1830, ss. 14, 20. Cebus, Brekin, ibid, s. 

 108. 



f Pallas, "Spicilegia Zoolog., Fasc.," xii, 1777, p. 29. Sir Andrew 

 Smith, " Illustrations of the Zoology of S. Africa," 1849, pi. 29, on 

 the Kobus. Owen, in his "Anatomy of Vertebrates" (vol. iii, 1868, 

 p. 633) gives a table showing incidentally which species of antelopes 

 are gregarious. 



