The Descent of Man

eards equally developed in both sexes of many
species, but in some, either confined to the
males, or more developed in them than in the
females. From this fact and from the curious
arrangement, as well as the bright colours of
the hair about the heads of many monkeys, it is
highly probable, as before explained, that the
males first acquired their beards through sexual
selection as an ornament, transmitting them in
most cases, equally or nearly so, to their offspring
of both sexes. We know from Eschricht
(25. 'Ueber die Richtung der Haare am Menschlichen
Korper,' in Muller's 'Archiv. fur Anat.
und Phys.' 1837, s. 40.) that with mankind the
female as well as the male foetus is furnished
with much hair on the face, especially round
the mouth; and this indicates that we are descended
from progenitors of whom both sexes
were bearded. It appears therefore at first sight
probable that man has retained his beard from
a very early period, whilst woman lost her
beard at the same time that her body became