The Descent of Man

ment of doubt; for it is a well-ascertained fact
that with man the number of males dying before
or during birth, and during the first two
years of infancy, is considerably larger than
that of females. So it almost certainly is with
male lambs, and probably with some other
animals. The males of some species kill one
another by fighting; or they drive one another
about until they become greatly emaciated.
They must also be often exposed to various
dangers, whilst wandering about in eager
search for the females. In many kinds of fish the
males are much smaller than the females, and
they are believed often to be devoured by the
latter, or by other fishes. The females of some
birds appear to die earlier than the males; they
are also liable to be destroyed on their nests, or
whilst in charge of their young. With insects the
female larvae are often larger than those of the
males, and would consequently be more likely
to be devoured. In some cases the mature females
are less active and less rapid in their move-