# On Comparative Longevity in Man and the Lower Animals

An audiobook by E. Ray Lankester, read by LibriVox volunteers (4 h 23 min, English).

A prize was recently offered in the University of Oxford for an Essay on Longevity, and was awarded to the little treatise now published. In the following pages the scope proposed in the subject given for the essay, viz. ‘The Comparative Longevity of different species of lower Animals and the Longevity of Man in different states of Civilization,' has been adhered to. The subject does not admit of very satisfactory treatment from a scientific point of view, and is accordingly one which probably few persons would have selected to write upon, unless under special circumstances, such as were present in this case. At the same time, Longevity is a subject of great popularity, and hence the facts and arguments herein set forth may, it is hoped, interest the public. One result which I hope to attain, by the favor of those who may read my pages, is the accumulation of an increased number of really trustworthy facts bearing on the questions raised. I venture to beg all those who have it in their power to communicate such facts to me, to do so. - Summary by Edwin Ray Lankester

[Listen](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/books/librivox/19454)

## Chapters

0. Preface (1:47): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_00_lankester_64kb.mp3
1. 1. Introductory (2:44): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_01_lankester_64kb.mp3
2. 2. Writers on Longevity, and general Sources of Information (21:35): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_02_lankester_64kb.mp3
3. A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 3. Longevity defined (6:49): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_03_lankester_64kb.mp3
4. A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 4. The various kinds of Longevity (18:43): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_04_lankester_64kb.mp3
5. A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 5. Inherent Death (29:43): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_05_lankester_64kb.mp3
6. A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 6. Elements of the life Period (3:08): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_06_lankester_64kb.mp3
7. A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 7. High Individuation favours Longevity (2:07): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_07_lankester_64kb.mp3
8. A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 8. Small Expenditure favours Longevity (4:34): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_08_lankester_64kb.mp3
9. A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 9. Why Longevity is thus influenced (8:07): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_09_lankester_64kb.mp3
10. A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 10. -part 1. Inductive (21:27): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_10_lankester_64kb.mp3
11. A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 10. -part 2. Inductive (33:52): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_11_lankester_64kb.mp3
12. A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 11. Other Relations of Longevity (8:41): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_12_lankester_64kb.mp3
13. A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 12. Some Experimental Evidence (5:42): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_13_lankester_64kb.mp3
14. A. Longevity in Organisms generally. 13. Summary (1:48): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_14_lankester_64kb.mp3
15. B. The Longevity of Man. 14. Preliminary (16:10): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_15_lankester_64kb.mp3
16. B. The Longevity of Man. 15. Sources of Information as to Human Longevity (13:22): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_16_lankester_64kb.mp3
17. B. The Longevity of Man. 16. Statements as to the Duration of Human life (30:23): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_17_lankester_64kb.mp3
18. B. The Longevity of Man. 17. General Conclusions from the foregoing Statements and Tables (4:16): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_18_lankester_64kb.mp3
19. B. The Longevity of Man. 18. Interpretation by the Law (8:47): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_19_lankester_64kb.mp3
20. B. The Longevity of Man. 19. Duration of Life in past Time (3:16): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_20_lankester_64kb.mp3
21. B. The Longevity of Man. 20. The Influence of various States of Civilization (4:20): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_21_lankester_64kb.mp3
22. B. The Longevity of Man. 21. Abnormal Longevity in Man (11:28): https://archive.org/download/oncomparativelongevity_2401_librivox/longevity_22_lankester_64kb.mp3