242 THE DESCENT OP MAN. 



excess, even with the young in the nest. In consequence of this, 

 Mr. Elliot himself subsequently examined some hundred old ones, 

 and found the statement true. Mr. F. Buckland has bred a large 

 number of white rats, and he also believes that the males greatly 

 exceed the females. In regard to Moles, it Is said that "the males 

 "are much more numerous than the females;"™ and as the catch- 

 ing of these animals is a special occupation, the statement may 

 perhaps be trusted. Sir A. Smith, in describing an antelope of 

 S. Africa" (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), remarks, that in the herds 

 of this and other species, the males are few in number compared 

 with the females: the natives believe that they are born in this 

 proportion; others believe that the younger males are expelled 

 from the herds, and Sir A. Smith says, that though he has himself 

 never seen herds consisting of young males alone, others af- 

 firm that this does occur. It appears probable that the young 

 when expelled from the herd, would often fall a prey to the many 

 beasts of prey of the country. 



BIRDS. 



With respect to the Fowl, I have received only one account, 

 namely, that out of 1001 chickens of a highly-bred stock of Coch- 

 ins, reared during eight years by Mr. Stretch, 487 proved males 

 and 514 females; i. e., as 94.7 to 100. In regard to domestic 

 pigeons there is good evidence either that the males are produced 

 in excess, or that they live longer; for these birds invariably 

 pair, and single males, as Mr. Tegetmeier informs me, can always 

 be purchased cheaper than females. Usually the two birds reared 

 from the two eggs laid in the same nest are a male and a female; 

 but Mr. Harrison "Weir, who has been so large a breeder, says 

 that he has often bred two cocks from the same nest, and seldom 

 two hens; moreover, the hen is generally the weaker of the two, 

 and more liable to perish. 



With respect to birds in a state of nature, Mr. Gould and oth- 

 ers"^ are convinced that the males are generally the more numer- 

 ous; and as the young males of many species resemble the fe- 

 males, the latter would naturally appear to be the more numerous. 

 Large numbers of pheasants are reared by Mr. Baker of Leaden- 

 hall from eggs laid by wild birds, and he informs Mr. Jenner 

 Weir that four or five males to one female are generally pro- 

 duced. An experienced observer remarks,"' that in Scandinavia 



«> Bell, 'History of British Quadrupeds,' p. 100. 



«' 'Illustrations of the Zoology of S. Africa,' 1849, pi. 29. 



"- Brehm Clllust. Thierleben,' B. Iv. s. 990) comes to the same con- 

 clusion. 



'" On the authority of L. Lloyd, 'Game Birds of Sweden,' 1867, pp. 12, 

 132. 



