[369] In regard to the Jews, see M. Thury, ‘La Loi de Production des Sexes,’ 1863, p. 25.
[370] Babbage, ‘Edinburgh Journal of Science,’ 1829, vol. i. p. 88; also p. 90, on still-born children. On illegitimate children in England, see ‘Report of Registrar-General for 1866,’ p. xv.
[371] ‘British and Foreign Medico-Chirurg. Review,’ April, 1867, p. 343. Dr. Stark also remarks (‘Tenth Annual Report of Births, Deaths, &c., in Scotland,’ 1867, p. xxviii) that “These examples may suffice to shew that, at almost every stage of life, the males in Scotland have a greater liability to death and a higher death-rate than the females. The fact, however, of this peculiarity being most strongly developed at that infantile period of life when the dress, food, and general treatment of both sexes are alike, seems to prove that the higher male death-rate is an impressed, natural, and constitutional peculiarity due to sex alone.”
[372] With the savage Guaranys of Paraguay, according to the accurate Azara (‘Voyages dans l’Amérique mérid.’ tom. ii. 1809, p. 60, 179), the women in proportion to the men are as 14 to 13.
[373] Leuckart in Wagner, ‘Handwörterbuch der Phys.’ B. iv. 1853, s. 774.
[374] Anthropological Review, April, 1870, p. cviii.
[375] During the last eleven years a record has been kept of the number of mares which have proved barren or prematurely slipped their foals; and it deserves notice, as shewing how infertile these highly-nurtured and rather closely-interbred animals have become, that not far from one-third of the mares failed to produce living foals. Thus during 1866, 809 male colts and 816 female colts were born, and 743 mares failed to produce offspring. During 1867, 836 males and 902 females were born, and 794 mares failed.
[376] I am much indebted to Mr. Cupples for having procured for me the above returns from Scotland, as well as some of the following returns on cattle. Mr. R. Elliot, of Laighwood, first called my attention to the premature deaths of the males,—a statement subsequently confirmed by Mr. Aitchison and others. To this latter gentleman, and to Mr. Payan, I owe my thanks for the larger returns on sheep.
[377] Bell, ‘History of British Quadrupeds,’ p. 100.
[378] ‘Illustrations of the Zoology of S. Africa,’ 1849, pl. 29.