The Descent of Man

the horns of the female Ant. euchore resemble
those of a distinct species, viz. the Ant. dorcas
var. Corine, see Desmarest, 'Mammalogie,' p.
455.),—and ending with those in which both
sexes have horns of equal size. As with the reindeer,
so with antelopes, there exists, as previously
shewn, a relation between the period of
the development of the horns and their transmission
to one or both sexes; it is therefore probable
that their presence or absence in the females
of some species, and their more or less
perfect condition in the females of other species,
depends, not on their being of any special
use, but simply on inheritance. It accords with
this view that even in the same restricted genus
both sexes of some species, and the males alone
of others, are thus provided. It is also a remarkable
fact that, although the females of Antilope
bezoartica are normally destitute of horns,
Mr. Blyth has seen no less than three females
thus furnished; and there was no reason to
suppose that they were old or diseased.