. The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. Evolution (Biology); Sexual selection in animals; Sexual dimorphism (Animals); Sex differences; Human beings. Chap. XV11.] MEANS OF DEFENCE. 251 offspring alone; and thus the great inequality in size be- tween the sexes of the Scotch deer-hound may probably be accounted for. The males of some few quadrupeds possess organs or parts developed solely as a means of defence against the attacks of other males. Some kinds of deer use, as we have seen, the upper branches of their horns chiefly or ex- clusively for defending themselves; and the Or
. The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. Evolution (Biology); Sexual selection in animals; Sexual dimorphism (Animals); Sex differences; Human beings. Chap. XV11.] MEANS OF DEFENCE. 251 offspring alone; and thus the great inequality in size be- tween the sexes of the Scotch deer-hound may probably be accounted for. The males of some few quadrupeds possess organs or parts developed solely as a means of defence against the attacks of other males. Some kinds of deer use, as we have seen, the upper branches of their horns chiefly or ex- clusively for defending themselves; and the Oryx ante- lope, as I am informed by Mr. Bartlett, fences most skil- fully with his long, gently-curved horns; but these are likewise used as organs of offence. Rhinoceroses, as the same observer remarks, in fighting pai-ry each other's side- long blows with their hoi'us, which loudly clatter together, as do the tusks of boars. Although wild- boars fight desperate- ly together, they sel- dom, according to Brehm, receive fatal blows, as these fall on each other's tusks, or on the layer of gristly skin covering the shoul- der, which the Giermau hunters call the shield; and here we have a part S25ecially modified for defence. With boars in the prime of life (see Fig. 63) the tusks in the lower jaw are used for fighting, but they become in old age, as Brehm states, so much curved inward and upward, over the snout, that they can no longer be thus used. They may, however, still continue to serve, and even in a still more effective manner, as a means of defence. In com- pensation for the loss of the lower tusks as weapons of offence, those in the upper jaw, which always project a. Fig. 63.—Head of coinmnn-wilrt boar, in prime of life (from Breiim).. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Darwin, Charles, 1
Size: 1716px × 1456px
Photo credit: © Paul Fearn / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubj, booksubjecthumanbeings
