The Descent of Man

weaker; and the former would then unite with
the more vigorous and better-nourished females,
because they are the first to breed. (8. Hermann
Muller has come to this same conclusion
with respect to those female bees which are the
first to emerge from the pupa each year. See his
remarkable essay, 'Anwendung der Darwin'schen
Lehre auf Bienen,' 'Verh. d. V. Jahrg.' xxix.
p. 45.) Such vigorous pairs would surely rear a
larger number of offspring than the retarded
females, which would be compelled to unite
with the conquered and less powerful males,
supposing the sexes to be numerically equal;
and this is all that is wanted to add, in the course
of successive generations, to the size,
strength and courage of the males, or to improve
their weapons.
But in very many cases the males which conquer
their rivals, do not obtain possession of
the females, independently of the choice of the
latter. The courtship of animals is by no means