According to Lord Kames, in Iceland before the plague (about 1710) families of from 15 to 20 were quite common.

The old settlers in cold North America were always blessed with large families, and Quebec is still noted for its prolificity.

There is little difference in this respect among nations, woman being limited about the same everywhere, and the general average of the range of the productive function remaining nearly identical in all nations.

Of course, exception must be made as to the extremes of north or south.
Ancient and Modern Prolificity .-- Nor is there much difference between ancient and modern times.

We read in the writings of Aristotle, Pliny, and Albucasis of the wonderful fertility of the women of Egypt, Arabia, and other warm countries, from 3 to 6 children often being born at once and living to maturity; but from the wonder and surprise shown in the narration of these facts, they were doubtless exceptions, of which parallels may be found in the present day.