



Produced by Sue Asscher










THE DESCENT OF MAN

AND

SELECTION IN RELATION TO SEX


Works by Charles Darwin, F.R.S.

Life and Letters of Charles Darwin.  With an Autobiographical Chapter.
Edited by Francis Darwin.  Portraits.  3 volumes 36s.  Popular Edition.
Condensed in 1 volume 7s 6d.

Naturalist's Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of
Countries Visited during a Voyage Round the World.  With 100 Illustrations
by Pritchett.  21s.  Popular Edition.  Woodcuts.  3s 6d.  Cheaper Edition,
2s. 6d. net.

Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection; or, The Preservation of
Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.  Large Type Edition, 2 volumes
12s.  Popular Edition, 6s.  Cheaper Edition with Portrait, 2s. 6d.

Various Contrivances by which Orchids are Fertilized by Insects.  Woodcuts.
7s. 6d.

Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication.  Illustrations.  15s.

Descent of Man, and Selection in relation to Sex.  Illustrations.  Large
Type Edition, 2 volumes 15s.  Popular Edition, 7s 6d.  Cheaper Edition, 2s.
6d. net.

Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals.  Illustrations.  12s.

Insectivorous Plants.  Illustrations.  9s.

Movements and Habits of Climbing Plants.  Woodcuts.  6s.

Cross and Self-Fertilization in the Vegetable Kingdom.  Illustrations.  9s.

Different Forms of Flowers on Plants of the Same Species.  Illustrations.
7s. 6d.

Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms.  Woodcuts.  6s.

The above works are Published by John Murray.

Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs.  Smith, Elder, & Co.

Geological Observations on Volcanic Islands and Parts of South America.
Smith, Elder, & Co.

Monograph of the Cirripedia.  Illustrations.  2 volumes.  8vo.  Ray
Society.

Monograph of the Fossil Lepadidae, or Pedunculated Cirripedes of Great
Britain.  Palaeontographical Society.

Monograph of the Fossil Balanidae and Verrucidae of Great Britain.
Palaeontographical Society.




THE DESCENT OF MAN

AND

SELECTION IN RELATION TO SEX

BY

CHARLES DARWIN, M.A., F.R.S.


Uniform with this Volume

The Origin of Species, by means of Natural Selection; or, The Preservation
of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.  Popular Edition, with a
Photogravure Portrait.  Large Crown 8vo.  2s. 6d. net.

A Naturalist's Voyage.  Journal of Researches into the Natural History and
Geology of the Countries visited during the Voyage of H.M.S. "Beagle" round
the World, under the Command of Capt. Fitz Roy, R.N.  Popular Edition, with
many Illustrations.  Large Crown 8vo.  2s. 6d. net.


PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

During the successive reprints of the first edition of this work, published
in 1871, I was able to introduce several important corrections; and now
that more time has elapsed, I have endeavoured to profit by the fiery
ordeal through which the book has passed, and have taken advantage of all
the criticisms which seem to me sound.  I am also greatly indebted to a
large number of correspondents for the communication of a surprising number
of new facts and remarks.  These have been so numerous, that I have been
able to use only the more important ones; and of these, as well as of the
more important corrections, I will append a list.  Some new illustrations
have been introduced, and four of the old drawings have been replaced by
better ones, done from life by Mr. T.W. Wood.  I must especially call
attention to some observations which I owe to the kindness of Prof. Huxley
(given as a supplement at the end of Part I.), on the nature of the
differences between the brains of man and the higher apes.  I have been
particularly glad to give these observations, because during the last few
years several memoirs on the subject have appeared on the Continent, and
their importance has been, in some cases, greatly exaggerated by popular
writers.

I may take this opportunity of remarking