400 GENERAL SUMMARY Part II. 



ing with certain individuals of the other sex, charac- 

 terised in some peculiar manner, the offspring Avould 

 slowly but surely become modified in this same manner. 

 I have not attempted to conceal that, excepting when 

 the males are more numerous than the females, or when 

 polygamy prevails, it is doubtful how the more attrac- 

 tive males succeed in leaving a larger number of off- 

 spring to inherit their superiority in ornaments or other 

 charms than the less attractive males ; but I have shewn 

 that this would probably follow from the females, — espe- 

 cially the more vigorous females which would be the first 

 to breed, preferring not only the more attractive but at 

 the same time the more vigorous and victorious males. 



Although we have some positive evidence that birds 

 appreciate bright and beautiful objects, as with the 

 Bower-birds of Australia, and although they certainly 

 appreciate the power of song, yet I fully admit that it 

 is an astonishing fact that the females of many birds 

 and some mammals should be endowed with sufficient 

 taste for what has apparently been effected through 

 sexual selection ; and this is even more astonishino: in 

 the case of reptiles, fish, and insects. But we really 

 know very little about the minds of the lower animals. 

 It cannot be supposed that male Birds of Paradise or 

 Peacocks, for instance, should take so much pains in 

 erecthig, spreading, and vibrating their beautiful plumes 

 before the females for no purpose. We should remember 

 the fact given on excellent authority in a former chap- 

 ter, namely that several peahens, when debarred from 

 an admired male, remained widows during a whole 

 season rather than pair with another bird. 



Nevertheless I know of no fact in natural history 

 more wonderful than that the female Argus pheasant 

 should be able to appreciate the exquisite shading of 

 the ball-and-socket ornaments and the elegant patterns 



