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The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

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sing the voice <strong>of</strong> the stag, we may reject the<br />

idea that the odour serves to bring the females<br />

from a distance to the males. Active and longcontinued<br />

use cannot here have come into play,<br />

as in the case <strong>of</strong> the vocal organs. <strong>The</strong> odour<br />

emitted must be <strong>of</strong> considerable importance to<br />

the male, inasmuch as large and complex<br />

glands, furnished with muscles for everting the<br />

sack, and for closing or opening the orifice,<br />

have in some cases been developed. <strong>The</strong> development<br />

<strong>of</strong> these organs is intelligible through<br />

sexual selection, if the most odoriferous males<br />

are the most successful in winning the females,<br />

and in leaving <strong>of</strong>fspring to inherit their gradually<br />

perfected glands and odours.<br />

DEVELOPMENT OF THE HAIR.<br />

We have seen that male quadrupeds <strong>of</strong>ten have<br />

the hair on their necks and shoulders much<br />

more developed than the females; and many<br />

additional instances could be given. This some-

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