^ THE DESCENT OF MAN 



acteristic of the lower rapes, and therefore of a past and 

 lower state of civilization. . 



y^ The chief distinction in the intellectual powers of the 

 two sexes is shown bj man's attaining to a higher emi- 

 nence, in whatever he takes up, than can woman — whether 

 requiring deep thought, reason, or imagination, or merely 

 the use of the senses and hands. If two lists were made of 

 \ the most eminent men and women in poetry, painting, sculp- 

 ! ture, music (inclusive both of composition and performance), 

 history, science, and philosophy, with half a dozen names 

 under each subject, the two lists would not bear compari- 

 son. We may also infer, from the law of the deviation from 

 averages, so well illustrated by Mr. Gralton, in his work on 

 I "Hereditary Genius," that if men are capable of a decided 

 \pre-eminence over women in many subjects, the average of 

 mental power in man miist be above that of woman. ^ 



Among the half-human progenitors of man and among 

 savages there have been struggles between the males during 

 many generations for the possession of the females. But 

 mere bodily strength and size would do little for victory, 

 unless associated with courage, perseverance, and deter- 

 mined energy. With social animals, the young males have 

 to pass through many a contest before they win a female, 

 and the older males have to retain their females by renewed 

 battles. They have, also, in the case of mankind, to defend 

 their females, as well as their young, from enemies of all 

 kinds, and to hunt for their joint subsistence. But to avoid 

 enemies, or to attack them with success, to capture wild ani- 

 mals, and to fashion weapons, requires the aid of the higher 

 mental faculties, namely, observation, reason, invention, or 

 imagination. These various faculties will thus have been 

 continually put to the test and selected during manhood; 

 they will, moreover, have been strengthened by use during 

 this same period of life. Consequently, in accordance with 

 the principle often alluded to, we might expect that they 

 would at least tend to be transmitted chiefly to the male 

 ofEspring at the corresponding period of manhood. 



