THE BEGINNINGS OF SOCIAL EVOLUTION 135 



have been a part of a universal desire to have as 

 much as possible of the world's good things at the 

 lowest price. A family, with its children, furnishes 

 the parents with assistance and gives them greater 

 power and influence. In the life of savages this is 

 the strongest factor contributing to the formation of 

 families, at least among tribes where the sexual 

 instinct is allowed free indulgence. 



After all, the most powerful influence contribut- 

 ing to the permanence of the family, even if not to its 

 original formation, is the bond of affection for the 

 offspring. This love for offspring is doubtless found 

 far below the grade of man. Mother's love is fre- 

 quently seen among animals, and it is usually strong 

 enough to make the mother ready to sacrifice her 

 life for her young. But among animals this love is 

 fleeting, lasting only a few weeks at most, and always 

 disappearing as soon as the young are old enough 

 to be independent. Moreover, such a thing as pater- 

 nal love among animals is almost unknown. As a 

 rule, the father knows nothing of his offspring, even 

 among the higher animals. Rarely does he remain 

 with the female till the young are born, and he fre- 

 quently takes such delight in destroying the young 

 that the mother must perchance defend her offspring 

 from their own father as vigorously as against an- 

 other enemy. There are exceptions to this rule, espe- 

 cially among birds and the higher primates. 



Now, with mankind these elements of parental love 

 expand into an affection which supports the human 

 family. Various factors have contributed to this 

 end. Two prominent ones are the small number of 

 offspring and the long period of helplessness of the 

 young. Where a dozen young are produced at a time 



