The Descent of Man 



or preference for certain individuals of the 

 other sex. 



Bearing in mind these facts and not for- 

 getting the marked results of man's unconscious 

 selection, it seems to me almost certain that 

 if the individuals of one sex were during a long 

 series of generations to prefer pairing with cer- 

 tain individuals of the other sex, characterized 

 in some peculiar manner, the offspring would 

 slowly but surely become modified in this same 

 manner. I have not attempted to conceal that, 

 excepting when the males are more numerous 

 than the females, or when polygamy prevails, 

 it is doubtful how the more attractive males 

 succeed in leaving a larger number of offspring 

 to inherit their superiority in ornaments or 

 other charms than the less attractive males; 

 but I have shown that this would probably 

 follow from the females — especially the more 

 vigorous ones, which would be the first to 

 breed — preferring not only the more attractive 

 but at the same time the more vigorous and 

 victorious males. 



Although we have some positive evidence 

 that birds appreciate bright and beautiful 

 objects, as with the bower-birds of Australia, 

 and although they certainly appreciate the 

 power of song, yet I fully admit that it is aston- 

 ishing that the females of many birds and some 

 mammals should be endowed with sufficient 

 taste to appreciate ornaments, which we have 

 reason to attribute to sexual selection; and this 

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