THE ERA OF HELPLESSNESS 37 



To illustrate the effect of this preference, let the 

 "new favorable trait individuals" be symbolized by 

 the letter a, the average race type by the letter 

 b, and the "new unfavorable trait individuals" 

 by c. Both sexes of a then have a preference for 

 each other, only interfered with by the great nu- 

 merical predominance of the 6's. The &'s have a 

 preference for the a's, which is made more effective 

 by the vast numerical predominance of the 6's, but 

 adversely affected by the preference of the a's for 

 each other. The c's have a preference for the a's, 

 and their next choice is the b's. Their preference 

 for the a's is fully balanced by the preference of 

 the a's for each other. Their preference for the 

 6's is greatly assisted by the vast numerical pre- 

 dominance of these, but hindered because the 6's 

 prefer each other to the c's. From this analysis 

 it follows that sexual selection counteracts the tend- 

 ency of panmixia to exterminate new traits when 

 they are favorable to adaptation, and assists it 

 when they are unfavorable. 



Mating with each other of those with favorable 

 traits transmits these from both parents, therefore 

 in increased degree, just as the mating of those 

 afflicted with unfavorable new traits with the aver- 

 age type transmits these traits from one side only, 

 therefore in lessened degree. 



The above considerations make it clear that 

 between these two agencies, viz., panmixia and 

 the dying earlier through the possession of unfa- 



