[285] _Cf._ DARWIN, _Descent of Man_, 108, 217 ff., 590, 591, who is cautious in his statement as to the rule among the quadrumana. KAUTSKY, "Entstehung der Ehe und Familie," _Kosmos_, XII, 198 ff., gives some interesting illustrations of marriage among animals; and see ESPINAS, _op. cit._, 444 ff.; ATKINSON, _Primal Law_, 219-25. Yet it would be easy to overestimate the value of the argument based upon the sexual relations of the lower animals. But it will not do with Kohler and Lippert to set it aside as entirely irrelevant.[286] Upon the precedents afforded by "anthropomorphic" species in particular, as Hellwald justly insists, no "slight weight should be placed;" for these are "not merely the highest organized animals, but they must also be regarded as the nearest animal relatives of man."[287] Indeed, the transition from the family as it exists among the quadrumana to that of the least-developed races of man is not abrupt, although the lowest examples of mankind yet observed are advanced beyond the supposed primitive human stage. The broad characteristics of the one are the characteristics of the other. The "relations of the sexes are, as a rule, of a more or less durable character." There is conjugal affection. The immediate care of the children belongs to the mother. "Among mammals as well as birds," declares Espinas, "maternal love is the corner-stone of the family."[288] The father is the protector and provider, although paternal love is more slowly developed. Like the male among the lower animals, savage or barbarous man may be "rather indifferent to the welfare of his wife and children, ... but the simplest paternal duties are, nevertheless, universally recognized. If he does nothing else, the father builds the habitation, and employs himself in the chase and in war."[289] [286] KOHLER, _Zur Urgeschichte der Ehe_, 6, 7; LIPPERT, _Kulturgeschichte_, I, 72, 73. [287] HELLWALD, _op. cit._, 26, 27. [288] _Op. cit._, 444; _cf._ HELLWALD, _op. cit._, 40-42. [289] WESTERMARCK, _op. cit._, 14-19. HILDEBRAND, _Ueber das Problem einer allgemeinen Entwicklungsgeschichte_, 23 ff., maintains the existence of monogamy in what he holds to be the first culture-stage, that of the chase. A similar result is reached by MUCKE, _Horde und Familie_, 59 ff., _passim_: KAUTSKY, _op. cit._, 190 ff.; GROSSE, _Die Formen der Familie_, as above summarized.