[8]

I am inclined to think they had better be printed on separate paper, facing each other.

[figure of a dog] (8) (Fig 6)

[Left margin:] Fig 5

N. B. The figures 5 to 9, must hold the relative positions, here shown, whether or not they are printed on separate pages or included in the common text.

[Right margin:] (For Description see type already set up)

 

[8v]

remarks that in the herds of this & other species the males are few in number compared with the females: the natives believe that they are born in this proportion; others believe that the younger males are expelled from the herds; & Sir A. Smith says, that though he has never himself seen herds consisting of young males alone, others affirm that such occur. It appears probable that the young when expelled from the herd, would at first be likely to fall prey to the many beasts of prey of the country.

(Woodcuts for Chapt II)

Birds

With respect to the Fowl, I have received only one account, namely that out of 1000 chickens from a highly bred stock of Cochins, Kept reared during eight years by Mr. Stretch 487 proved males & 514 females; i.e. as 94.7 to 100. - In regard to domestic pigeons there is fair evidence that males are either produced in excess or live longest; for, as Mr. Tegetmeier informs me, single males can always be purchased cheaper than females. Usually the two birds reared from the two eggs laid in each nest consist of a male & female; but Mr Harrison Weir, who has

 

[9]

Fig 7 Fig 8

(see text for description)

 

(8

been so large a breeder, says that he has often bred from the same nest two cocks & seldom two hens: moreover the hen is generally the weaker of the two & is more liable to perish.

With respect to birds in a state of nature, Mr Gould * & others are* (K) convinced that the males are generally the more numerous; & as the young males of many species resemble the females, the latter would naturally appear to be the most numerous. notice, as bearing on the struggle between rival males, that generally with migratory species the males arrive first; this is well-known to be the case with the nightingale & Mr Gould has proved it to be so with the snipe. Large numbers of pheasants are reared from eggs laid by wild birds = by Mr Baker of Leaden-Hall  & he informed Mr Jenner Weir that four or five males to one female are generally produced. An experienced observer remarks* (L) that in Scandinavia the broods of the Capercali & Black-cock contain

 

[10]

Fig 9 Fig 10 See text for Description

 

(8

consisted of 280 bull-calves & 294 cow-calves; i.e. as 95.2 to 100. The Revd. W. D. Fox informs me that in 1867 out of 34 calves born on a farm in Derbyshire only one was a bull. Mr. Harrison Weir writes to me that he has inquired from several breeders of Pigs, & most of them estimate the males to the females birth as about 7 to 6. This same gentleman has bred Rabbits for many years, & has noticed that a far greater number of bucks are produced than does. Mr F. Buckland believes that this is the case with Rats of which he has bred hundreds.)

(Of Mammalia in a state of nature I have been able to learn hardly anything. In regard to Moles, it is said that "the males are much more numerous than the females";*(H) & as the catching of these animals is a special occupation, this statement may perhaps be trusted. Sir A. Smith in describing an antelope of S. Africa*(I) (Kobus ellipsiprymnus)