SEXUAL TENDENCIES IN MONKEYS 311 



ments. In a moment she returned to the attack, and Gertie 

 again assumed the sexual position, but this time eluded the baboon 

 and was allowed to escape to another cage. 



Observation 25. When 11-Grace-Papio — (mature) was first 

 admitted to an outdoor band of which 3-Kate-M-r (mature) was 

 a member, she was attacked by Kate. For several days Kate 

 was able to pounce upon the baboon's back, bite her and escape. 

 But the baboon finally cornered her, whereupon Kate promptly 

 assumed the sexual position, which did not avert the attack. 

 It is unnecessary to multiply instances of this kind, but it may 

 be said that I have witnessed many episodes where a smaller 

 female endeavored to avert a larger female's attack by assuming 

 the sexual position, but that I have never known either animal 

 to display sexual excitement unless the aggressive female's 

 momentary mounting of her victim could be regarded as due to 

 an erotic impulse. The absence of such signs of sexual excite- 

 ment as smacking the lips and copulatory movements, and the 

 continued display of hostility on the part of the female while 

 she is mounting the object of her attack render it unlikely that 

 the mere act of mounting under these conditions occurs in res- 

 ponse to sex hunger. On the other hand, the tendency of the 

 weaker female to offer herself to the aggressive female for copu- 

 lation is clearly related to a desire to escape rather than to sexual 

 desire. The next observation will tend to confirm this opinion. 



Situation 16. Female in a condition to render copulation 

 inacceptable made accessible to a male. 



Observation 26. A week after the birth of a full-term infant, 

 which was dead when first discovered, 9-Gertie-M-cr was made 

 accessible to 16-Sobke-M-r (both animals sexually mature). 

 Before the birth of her infant Gertie had always been on good 

 terms with Sobke, and had never displayed fear in his presence. 

 But when he approached her on this occasion, smacking his lips 

 and eager for copulation, she gnashed her teeth and squealed in 

 fear. The male pursued her, and when she was cornered, Gertie 

 assumed the sexual position. When Sobke reared upon his 

 hind legs Gertie darted past him. This episode was repeated 

 several times, the female always effecting her escape before the 

 male could copulate, and at no time displaying sexual excitement. 

 A week later she submitted to copulation with Sobke, and dis- 

 played sexual excitement. 



