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The Descent of Man

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y hair from their faces as something odious,<br />

whilst the men <strong>of</strong> the bearded races feel the<br />

greatest pride in their beards. <strong>The</strong> women, no<br />

doubt, participate in these feelings, and if so<br />

sexual selection can hardly have failed to have<br />

effected something in the course <strong>of</strong> later times.<br />

It is also possible that the long-continued habit<br />

<strong>of</strong> eradicating the hair may have produced an<br />

inherited effect. Dr. Brown-Sequard has shewn<br />

that if certain animals are operated on in a particular<br />

manner, their <strong>of</strong>fspring are affected.<br />

Further evidence could be given <strong>of</strong> the inheritance<br />

<strong>of</strong> the effects <strong>of</strong> mutilations; but a fact<br />

lately ascertained by Mr. Salvin (26. On the tailfeathers<br />

<strong>of</strong> Motmots, 'Proceedings <strong>of</strong> the Zoological<br />

Society,' 1873, p. 429.) has a more direct<br />

bearing on the present question; for he has<br />

shewn that the motmots, which are known<br />

habitually to bite <strong>of</strong>f the barbs <strong>of</strong> the two central<br />

tail- feathers, have the barbs <strong>of</strong> these feathers<br />

naturally somewhat reduced. (27. Mr.<br />

Sproat has suggested ('Scenes and Studies <strong>of</strong>

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