308 SEXUAL SELECTION: MAN. [Part II. 



fact is analogous witli what occurs with some allied mon- 

 keys ; thus the sexes of the chimpanzee are not as different 

 as those of the gorilla or orang."" 



In the previous cha^ttcrs we have seen that vrith mam- 

 mals, birds, fislies, insects, etc., many characters, whicli 

 there is every reason to believe were primarily gained 

 through sexual selection by one sex alone, have been trans- 

 ferred to both sexes. As this same form of transmission 

 has apparently prevailed to a large extent with mankind, 

 it will save much useless repetition if we consider the 

 characters peculiar to the male sex together with certain 

 other characters common to both sexes. 



Law of Battle. — With barbarous nations, for instance 

 with the Australians, the women are the constant cause of 

 war both between the individuals of the same tribe and 

 between distinct tribes. So no doubt it was in ancient 

 times ; " nam fuit ante Helenam mulier teterrima belli 

 causa." With the North American Indians, the contest 

 is reduced to a system. That excellent observer, Hearne,"' 

 ^vys : " It has ever been the custom among these people 

 for the men to wrestle for any woman to whom they are 

 attached ; and, of course, the strongest party always car- 

 ries off the prize. A weak man, imless he be a good hunt- 

 er, and well-beloved, is seldom permitted to keep a wife 

 that a stronger man thinks worth his notice. This custom 

 prevails throughout all the tribes, and causes a great spirit 

 of emulation among their youth, who are upon all oc- 



the sexes of the American Indians differ less than those of the negroes 

 and of the higher races. See also Rcngger, ibid. p. 3, on the Guaranys. 



'" Riitimeyer, ' Die Grenzen der Thierwelt ; eiiie Betrachtung zu Dar- 

 win's Lehre,' 1868, s. 54. 



*' 'A Journey from Prince of Wales Fort,' 8vo edit. Diiblin, ITOe, 

 p. 104. Sir J. Lubbock ('Origin of Civilization,' 1870, p. 09) gives other , 

 and similar cases in North America. For the Guanas of South America 

 Bee Azara, ' Voyages,' etc., tom. ii. p. 94. 



