The Descent of Man

lieve that females are produced in excess; but
he suggests that this belief may have arisen
from females being less valued, and from the
consequent disappointment producing a stronger
impression on the mind.
SHEEP.
The sexes of sheep are not ascertained by agriculturists
until several months after birth, at the
period when the males are castrated; so that the
following returns do not give the proportions
at birth. Moreover, I find that several great
breeders in Scotland, who annually raise some
thousand sheep, are firmly convinced that a
larger proportion of males than of females die
during the first year or two. Therefore the proportion
of males would be somewhat larger at
birth than at the age of castration. This is a remarkable
coincidence with what, as we have
seen, occurs with mankind, and both cases probably
depend on the same cause. I have recei-