The Descent of Man

to lead to effective sexual selection in a state of
nature. Nevertheless, in the cases of some few
wild animals, as shewn in the supplement, the
proportions seem to fluctuate either during
different seasons or in different localities in a
sufficient degree to lead to such selection. For it
should be observed that any advantage, gained
during certain years or in certain localities by
those males which were able to conquer their
rivals, or were the most attractive to the females,
would probably be transmitted to the offspring,
and would not subsequently be eliminated.
During the succeeding seasons, when, from
the equality of the sexes, every male was able to
procure a female, the stronger or more attractive
males previously produced would still have
at least as good a chance of leaving offspring as
the weaker or less attractive.
POLYGAMY.