The Descent of Man

than females. Usually the two birds reared
from the two eggs laid in the same nest are a
male and a female; but Mr. Harrison Weir, who
has been so large a breeder, says that he has
often bred two cocks from the same nest, and
seldom two hens; moreover, the hen is generally
the weaker of the two, and more liable to
perish.
With respect to birds in a state of nature, Mr.
Gould and others (62. Brehm ('Thierleben,' B.
iv. s. 990) comes to the same conclusion.) are
convinced that the males are generally the more
numerous; and as the young males of many
species resemble the females, the latter would
naturally appear to be the more numerous.
Large numbers of pheasants are reared by Mr.
Baker of Leadenhall from eggs laid by wild
birds, and he informs Mr. Jenner Weir that four
or five males to one female are generally produced.
An experienced observer remarks (63.
On the authority of L. Lloyd, 'Game Birds of