Chap. XVII. PREFERENCES IN PAIRING. 269 



female quadrupeds, wliicli stand higher in the scale of 

 organisation and have higlier mental powers, did not 

 generally, or at least often, exert some choice. The 

 female could in most cases escape, if wooed by a male 

 that did not please or excite her ; and when pursued, 

 as so incessantly occurs, by several males, slie would 

 often have the opportunity, whilst they were figliting 

 together, of escaping wdth, or at least of temporarily 

 pairing with, some one male. This latter contingency 

 has often been observed in Scotland with female red- 

 deer, as I have been informed by Sir Philip Egerton.^^ 



It is scarcely possible that much should be known 

 about female quadrupeds exerting in a state of nature 

 any choice in their marriage unions. The following 

 very curious details on the courtship of one of the 

 eared seals, CallorMnus ur sinus, are given ^° on the 

 authority of Capt. Bryant, who had ample opportunities 

 for observation. He says, "Many of the females on 

 '* their arrival at the island where they breed appear 

 " desirous of returning to some particular male, and 

 " frequently climb the outlying rocks to overlook the 

 " rookeries, calling out and listening as if for a familiar 

 " voice. Then changing to another place they do the 

 " same again .... As soon as a female reaches tlie 

 " shore, the nearest male goes down to meet her, making 

 '* meanwhile a noise like the cluckino; of a hen to her 

 " chickens. He bows to her and coaxes her until he 

 " gets between her and the water so that she cannot 

 " escape him. Then his manner-- changes, and with a 



^^ Mr. Boner in his excellent description of tlie habits of the jed- 

 deer in Germany ('Forest Creatures,' 1861, ji. 81) says, "while the 

 " stag is defending- his rights against one intruder, another invades the 

 " sanctuary of his harem, and carries off trophy after trophy." Exactly 

 the same thing occurs with seals, see Mr. J. A. Allen, ibid. p. 100. 



40 Mr. J, A. Allen in ' Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoolog. of Cambridge, United 

 States,' vol. ii. No. 1, p. 09. 



