SEXUAL SELECTION IN RELATION T(\^ j^^^ ygg 



mals, birds, fishes, insects, etc., many giiaracters, which 

 there is_everj_reason to believe were^ primarily gained 

 through sexual '^election by one ser,- i^^ve been trans- 

 ferred to tbe otheK As this sar^^'form of transmission 

 has apparently prevafte4>.^ch ^jt^^ mankind, it will save 

 useless repetition if we di^uss the origin of characters 

 peculiar to the male sex together with certain other char- 

 acters common to both sexes. 



Law of Battle. — "With savages, for instance the Austra- 

 lians, the women are the constant cause of war both between 

 members of the same tribe and between distinct tribes. So 

 no doubt it was in ancient times; "nam fuit ante Helenam 

 mulier teterrima belli causa." With some of the North 

 American Indians, the contest is reduced to a system. 

 That excellent observer, Hearne," says: "It has ever been 

 the custom among these people for the men to wrestle for 

 any woman to whom they are attached; and, of course, the 

 strongest party always carries off the prize. A weak man, 

 unless he be a good hunter, and well beloved, is seldom 

 permitted to keep a wife that a stronger man thinks worth 

 his notice. This custom prevails throughout all the tribes, 

 and causes a great spirit of emulation among their youth, 

 who are upon all occasions, from their childhood, trying 

 their strength and skill in wrestling." With the Gruanas 

 of South America, Azara states that the men rarely marry 

 till twenty years old or more, as before that age they cannot 

 conquer their rivals. 



Other similar facts could be given; but even if we had 

 no evidence on this head, we might feel almost sure from 

 the analogy of the higher Quadrumana," that the law of 

 battle had prevailed with man during the early stages of 



^^ "A Journey from Priace of "Wales Fort," 8vo. edit. Dublin, 1196, p. 104. 

 Sir J. Lubbock ("Origin of CivUizalioQ, " 1810, p. 69) gives other and similar 

 cases in North America. For the Guanas of S. America, see Azara, "Voyages," 

 etc., torn, il p. 94. . 



22 On the fighting of the male gorillas, see Dr. Savage, in "Boston Journal 

 of Nat. Hist.," vol. v., 184T, p. 423. On P/reshytis enteUus, see the "Indian 

 Held," 1859, p. 146. 



