IX.] EVOLUTION AND ETHICS. 205 



who possessed a similar inherited aversion might result in 

 phenomena quite other than the augmentation of such 

 aversion, even if the two aversions should be altogether 

 similar ; while, very probably, they might be so different in 

 their nature as to tend to neutralize each other. Besides, 

 the union of parents so similarly emotional, would be rare 

 indeed among savages, where marriages would be owing to 

 almost any thing rather than to congeniality of mind be- 

 tween the spouses. Mr. Wallace tells us, 4 that they choose 

 their wives for "rude health and physical beauty," and 

 this is just what might be naturally supposed. Again, we 

 must bear in mind the necessity there is that many indi- 

 viduals should be similarly and simultaneously affected 

 with this aversion from consanguineous unions; as we 

 have seen in the second chapter, how infallibly variations 

 presented by only a few individuals, tend to be eliminated 

 by mere force of numbers. Mr. Darwin indeed would 

 throw back this aversion, if possible, to a pre-human period ; 

 since he speculates as to whether the gorillas or orang- 

 utans, in effecting their matrimonial relations, show any 

 tendency to respect the prohibited degrees of affinity. 6 

 No tittle of evidence, however, has yet been adduced point- 

 ing in any such direction, though surely if it were of such 

 importance and efficiency as to result (through the aid of 

 " Natural Selection " alone) in that " abhorrence " before 

 spoken of, we might expect to be able to detect unmistak- 

 able evidence of its incipient stages. On the contrary, as 

 regards the ordinary apes (for with regard to the highest 

 there is no evidence of the kind) as we see them in con- 

 finement, it would be difficult to name any animals less re- 

 stricted, by even a generic bar, in the gratification of the 

 sexual instinct. And although the conditions under which 

 they have been observed are abnormal, yet these are 



4 " Natural Selection," p. 350. 



5 " Animals and Plants under Domestication," vol. iL 



