The Descent of Man

ved long, when removed from their native
country.
Lessened fertility from changed conditions, as
in the case of the Tasmanians, Maories, Sandwich
Islanders, and apparently the Australians,
is still more interesting than their liability to illhealth
and death; for even a slight degree of
infertility, combined with those other causes
which tend to check the increase of every population,
would sooner or later lead to extinction.
The diminution of fertility may be explained in
some cases by the profligacy of the women (as
until lately with the Tahitians), but Mr. Fenton
has shewn that this explanation by no means
suffices with the New Zealanders, nor does it
with the Tasmanians.
In the paper above quoted, Mr. Macnamara
gives reasons for believing that the inhabitants
of districts subject to malaria are apt to be sterile;
but this cannot apply in several of the above
cases. Some writers have suggested that the