PROPORTION OF THE SEXES. 241 



Sheep. — The sexes of sheep are not ascertained by agriculturists 

 until several months after birth, at the period when the males 

 are castrated; so that the following returns do not give the pro- 

 portions at birth. Moreover, I find that several great breeders 

 in Scotland, who annually raise some thousand sheep, are firmly 

 convinced that a larger proportion of males than of females die 

 during the first year or two. Therefore the proportion of males 

 would be somewhat larger at birth than at the age of castration. 

 This is a remarkable coincidence with what, as we have seen, 

 occurs with mankind, and both cases probably depend on the 

 same cause. I have received returns from four gentlemen in 

 England who have bred Lowland sheep, chiefly Leicesters, during 

 the last ten to sixteen years; they amount altogether to 8965 

 births, consisting of 4407 males and 4558 females; that is in the 

 proportion of 96.7 males to 100 females. With respect to Cheviot 

 and black faced sheep bred in Scotland, I have received returns 

 from six breeders, two of them on a large scale, chiefly for the 

 years 1867-1869, but some of the returns extend back to 1862. 

 The total number recorded amounts to 50,685, consisting of 25,071 

 males and 25,614 females, or in the proportion of 97.9 males to 

 100 females. If we take the English and Scotch returns together, 

 the total number amounts to 59,650, consisting of 29,478 males 

 and 30,172 females, or as 97.7 to 100. So that with sheep at the 

 age of castration the females are certainly in excess of the males, 

 but probably this would not hold good at birth.™ 



Of Cattle I have received returns from nine gentlemen of 982 

 births, too few to be trusted; these consisted of 477 bull-calves 

 and 505 cow-calves; 1. e., in the proportion of 94.4 males to 100 

 females. The Rev. W. D. Fox informs me that in 1867 out of 34 

 calves born on a farm in Derbyshire only one was a bull. Mr. 

 Harrison Weir has inquired from several breeders of Pigs, and 

 most of them estimate the male to the female births as about 7 

 to 6. This same gentleman has bred Rabbits for many years, 

 and has noticed that a far greater number of bucks are produced 

 than does. But estimations are of little value. 



Of mammalia in a state of nature I have been able to learn very 

 little. In regard to the common rat, I have received conflicting 

 statements. Mr. R. Elliot, of Laighwood, informs me that a rat- 

 catcher assured him that he had always found the males in great 



™ I am much Indebted to Mr. Cupples for having- procured for me 

 the above returns from Scotland as well as some of the following 

 returns on cattle. Mr. R. Elliot, of Laighwood, first called my at- 

 tention to the premature deaths of the males, — a statement subse- 

 quently confirmed by Mr. Aitchison and others. To this latter gen- 

 tleman, and to Mr. Payan, I owe my thanks for large returns as 

 to sheep. 

 17 



