The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1870.06.30. Sexual Selection Mammals. CUL-DAR83.32. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 2.2022. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volumes CUL-DAR80-86 contain material for Darwin's book Descent of man (1871).

[32]

Sexual Selection Mammals Z. Gardens

June 30 /70/ The African River Hog Potamochoerus penicillatus, have got most of skin with short hair above upper jaw, & hard cartilaginous knob beneath eyes ([all way] to pad in the Ethiopian boar.) & two bony prominences on upper jaw above nostrils - used all these parts were scored & bloody after the battle.

The lower tusks are much the sharpest in the Ethiopian but it seems difficult to understand, how from their shortness they cd be efficiently used as weapon. - No doubt the upper & longer & blunter tusks seem mainly as defence.

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