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individual thus equipped would propagate the species. Un- 
questionably there would be some at least among its descendants 
in whose case the paternal equipment would be repeated ; and 
if on renewed attacks these very ones again survived, and, 
moreover, principally those whose horns were most developed, 
then little by little, by transmission of this weapon to the other 
sex, a completely horned species would be formed, especially if 
the other sex would of its accord give the preference to the 
males thus ornamented ; and here Darwin's theory of natural 
selection is supplemented by the so-called sexual selection, to 
which he has recently devoted a special work." 
81. Few of the operations of nature would seem to be more 
simple than the manufacture of a horn ; let us, therefore, care- 
fully examine the amount of time and lucky chance which this 
theory finds it necessary to postulate as necessary for its forma- 
tion. This will give us a clear idea of the difficulties which 
must have been surmounted in the course of the evolution of 
man from an inorganic cell, if there was nothing but unintel- 
ligent forces to operate with. 
I. The theory before us presupposes a very favourable concur- 
rence of circumstances with which to commence our operations. 
Nature has already kindly furnished us with a herd of cattle, 
with powerful necks and protruding foreheads. How long it 
must have taken to form these latter appendages this philosophy 
does not tell us. Having eternity at its command, it simply 
brandishes its magic wand and says, as indefinite a number of 
eons of past time as you require. 
II. Another favourable condition is provided all ready for 
our use. It seems that a horn cannot be grown on a hornless 
animal without the exercise of butting ; accordingly, a number 
of beasts of prey are at hand at the proper time and place to offer 
battle to our unhorned herd — these, be it observed, are supposed 
to be fully equipped with all their weapons of offence. But 
suppose that these latter had come into existence at a different 
time and place, or that instead of our oxen being surrounded by 
beasts of prey, they had come into existence among a number 
of peaceful creatures, the whole operation of horn-growing must 
have come to a standstill. The concurrence of such favourable 
contingencies could only have occurred after the lapse of 
indefinite eons. 
III. The herd, when attacked, defend themselves by butting. 
It was fortunate that nature should have furnished them with 
this impulse. This looks like the presence of intelligence, for 
unintelligent nature might quite as well have provided them 
with a disposition to run away when attacked, as she has the 
y 2 
