1887 .] Mr T. B. Sprague on a Fruitful Marriage. 
339 
upwards, the proportion of childless marriages is at all ages greater 
among the brothers than among the uncles. Similarly, referring 
back to Table A, we see that the proportion of childless marriages 
among the sons of peers, is at all ages greater than among the 
peers themselves. In both cases, therefore, the proportion of 
childless marriages is greater in the younger generation. This is 
quite consistent with the proposition laid down by many writers, 
that there is a constant tendency in the families of the peerage, 
and of ruling classes generally, to die out ; and it suggests a tempt- 
ing field of enquiry. No doubt many interesting and valuable 
results would be obtained, if the experience of several successive 
generations of the peerage families, were investigated with regard 
to both their mortality and their fecundity ; but, although the 
figures above given, as far as they go, certainly support the idea 
that a gradual deterioration is taking place in the peerage families, 
the figures involved are too small to be accepted as giving any 
conclusive evidence on the point. 
It is now time to compare the results thus far obtained, with 
those given in my former paper, which related only to men over 40 at 
marriage. For this purpose, my former figures are entered in the 
following table, alongside of those now obtained for (1) peers and their 
sons, (2) their younger brothers and their fathers’ younger brothers. 
Table D. 
Age at 
Marriage. 
Peers and their 
Sons. 
Y’nger Brothers 
and 
Younger Uncles. 
Total. 
Former 
Observations. 
Marriages. 
Of which 
were 
Childless. 
Marriages. 
Of which 
were 
Childless. 
Marriages. 
Of which 
were 
Childless. 
Marriages. 
Of which 
were 
Childless. 
Number. 
o / 
/ o 
Number. 
% 
Number. 
% 
Number. 
1 
7. 
16 to 29 
382 
53 
13-9 
421 
75 
17-8 
803 
128 
15-9 
... 
30 „ 39 
171 
27 
15-8 
276 
66 
23-9 
447 
93 
20-8 
o 
CD 
41 
11 
26-8 
89 
30 
33-7 
130 
41 
31-5 
196 
56 
28-6 
50 „ 59 
19 
10 
52-6 
25 
15 
60-0 
44 
25 
56-8 
92 
42 
45-7 
60 and upwards 
13 
9 
69-2 
10 
9 
90-0 
23 
18 
78-3 
51 
39 
76-5 
All Ages 
626 
110 
17-6 
821 
195 
23-8 
1447 
305 
21T 
40 and upwards 
73 
30 
41-1 
124 
54 
43-5 i 
197 
84 
42-6 
339 
137 
40-4 
