RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1870]. Draft of Descent, folio 21. Bonhams-16097Lot2315. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 11.2022. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of William Huxley Darwin. Bonhams, 11 June 2008, New York. Sold for US$78,000. Provenance: Jeremy Norman (Sotheby's London, 11 December, 1992, Lot 141, reproduced there in black and white, p. 58, F3517b).

The text of the draft corresponds to Descent 1: 265-6.


[21]

(21

(Sexual Selection)

disappeared; & such as they are, they they would not have but hardly suffice to influence the results of sexual selection. Nevertheless, in not few cases given in the supplement the proportion of the sexes with some few animals in a state of nature as given in the supplement & the proportions seem are to fluctuate more in a sufficient degree to considerably & enough to influence the cause of sexual selection. For any advantage gained during certain years, or in certain localities, by the males. which were able to conquered other males, or were the more attractive to the females, would tend to be transmitted to their offspring; & would not there is no apparent cause tendency & it would subsequently tend to eliminate subsequently an the advantage when once gained in this manner.)

The practice of Polygamy leads to the same results as an actual inequality in the number between of the sexes; for if each male secures secures two or more females, many males will not be able to pair; & these latter assuredly will be the weaker & less attractive individuals. animals. indiv

Many mammals & some few birds are polygamists, but with the members of the other & of the lower Classes I have found no account of this


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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

File last updated 30 October, 2023