Chap. XIV. PREFERENCE BY THE FEMALE. 123 



taste for the beautiful both in colour aud sound. It 

 is certain that the females occasionally exhibit, from 

 unknown causes, tlie strongest antipathies and prefer- 

 ences for particular males. When the sexes differ in 

 colour or in other ornaments, the males with rare ex- 

 ceptions are the most highly decorated, either perma- 

 nently or temporarily during the breeding-season. They 

 sedulously display their various ornaments, exert their 

 voices, and perform strange antics in the presence of the 

 females. Even well-armed males, who, it might have 

 been thought, would have altogether depended for 

 success on the law of battle, are in most cases highly 

 ornamented; and their ornaments have been acquired 

 at the expense of some loss of power. In other cases 

 ornaments have been acquired, at the cost of increased 

 risk from birds and beasts of prey. With various spe- 

 cies manv individuals of both sexes conore^'ate at the 

 same spot, and their courtship is a prolonged affair. 

 There is even reason to suspect that the males and 

 females within the same district do not always succeed 

 in pleasing each other and pairing. 



What then are we to conclude from these facts and 

 considerations? Does the male parade his charms with 

 so much pomp and rivalry for no purpose ? Are we not 

 justified in believing that the female exerts a choice, 

 and that she receives the addresses of the male who 

 pleases her most ? It is not probable that she con- 

 sciously deliberates ; but she is most excited or at- 

 tracted by the most beautiful, or melodious, or gal- 

 lant males. Nor need it be supposed that the female 

 studies each stripe or spot of colour; that the peahen, 

 for instance, admires each detail in the gorgeous train of 

 the peacock — she is probal)ly struck only by the general 

 effect. Nevertheless after hearing how carefully the 

 male Argus pheasant displays his elegant primary 



