def _no_primary(max_staleness, selection):
    """Apply max_staleness, in seconds, to a Selection with no known primary."""
    # Secondary that's replicated the most recent writes.
    smax = selection.secondary_with_max_last_write_date()
    if not smax:
        # No secondaries and no primary, short-circuit out of here.
        return selection.with_server_descriptions([])

    sds = []

    for s in selection.server_descriptions:
        if s.server_type == SERVER_TYPE.RSSecondary:
            # See max-staleness.rst for explanation of this formula.
            staleness = (smax.last_write_date -
                         s.last_write_date +
                         selection.heartbeat_frequency)

            if staleness <= max_staleness:
                sds.append(s)
        else:
            sds.append(s)

    return selection.with_server_descriptions(sds)