The Descent of Man

love of their young offspring; and consequently
they would not have practised female infanticide.
Women would not have been thus rendered
scarce, and polyandry would not have been
practised; for hardly any other cause, except the
scarcity of women seems sufficient to break
down the natural and widely prevalent feeling
of jealousy, and the desire of each male to possess
a female for himself. Polyandry would be a
natural stepping-stone to communal marriages
or almost promiscuous intercourse; though the
best authorities believe that this latter habit
preceded polyandry. During primordial times
there would be no early betrothals, for this implies
foresight. Nor would women be valued
merely as useful slaves or beasts of burthen.
Both sexes, if the females as well as the males
were permitted to exert any choice, would
choose their partners not for mental charms, or
property, or social position, but almost solely
from external appearance. All the adults would
marry or pair, and all the offspring, as far as