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The Descent of Man

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well as the possession <strong>of</strong> horns by both sexes,<br />

seems at first to prove that the horns in this<br />

species do not constitute a sexual character (17.<br />

This is the conclusion <strong>of</strong> Seidlitz, 'Die Darwinsche<br />

<strong>The</strong>orie,' 1871, p. 47.); but as they are developed<br />

at a very early age, before the sexes differ<br />

in constitution, it is not surprising that they<br />

should be unaffected by castration, even if they<br />

were aboriginally acquired by the male. With<br />

sheep both sexes properly bear horns; and I am<br />

informed that with Welch sheep the horns <strong>of</strong><br />

the males are considerably reduced by castration;<br />

but the degree depends much on the age<br />

at which the operation is performed, as is likewise<br />

the case with other animals. Merino rams<br />

have large horns, whilst the ewes "generally<br />

speaking are without horns"; and in this breed<br />

castration seems to produce a somewhat greater<br />

effect, so that if performed at an early age<br />

the horns "remain almost undeveloped." (18. I<br />

am much obliged to Pr<strong>of</strong>. Victor Carus, for<br />

having made enquiries for me in Saxony on this

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