E. W. LONDON, _January, 1894_. PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION I much regret that the demand for a new edition of this book should come at a time when circumstances prevent me from undertaking such a revision of the work as I feel to be required. Since the appearance of the Second Edition many important facts bearing upon the subject have been brought to light, new theories have been advanced, and old theories, supported by fresh arguments, have been revived. To all this, however, I can do no justice, as I am at present being engaged in anthropological research in Morocco. This edition is, in consequence, a mere reprint of the second. But I purpose, after my return to Europe, to issue an Appendix, in which the book will be brought more up to date and some criticism will be replied to. E. W. MOGADOR (MOROCCO), _August, 1901_. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ON THE METHOD OF INVESTIGATION History of human civilization a part of Sociology, p. 1.—Early history based on ethnography, p. 2.—Errors in method, pp. 2, _et seq._—How we can from ethnographical facts acquire information regarding the early history of mankind, pp. 3-6.—Dr. Tylor’s ‘method of investigating the development of institutions,’ pp. 4, _et seq._—The causes of social phenomena, p. 5.—What we know about the antiquity of the human race, pp. 5, _et seq._—Social survivals, p. 6.—‘Human marriage,’ _ibid._ CHAPTER I THE ORIGIN OF MARRIAGE Tales of the origin of marriage, pp. 8, _et seq._—The subject regarded from a scientific point of view, p. 9.—Parental care among Invertebrata, _ibid._—The relations of the sexes and parental care among Fishes, p. 10.—Among Reptiles, _ibid._—Among Birds, pp. 10, _et seq._—Among the lower Mammals, p. 12.—Among the Quadrumana, pp. 12-14.—Among savage and barbarous races of men, pp. 14-17.—The father’s place in the family, pp. 15-19.—Definition of the word marriage, pp. 19, _et seq._—Marriage a product of natural selection, pp. 20, _et seq._—Marriage rooted in family rather than family in marriage, pp. 22-24. CHAPTER II A HUMAN PAIRING SEASON IN PRIMITIVE TIMES