Chap. XVII. Mammals — Choice in Pairing. 523 



given 45 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 

 u place they do the same again .... As soon as a female reaches 

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

 " meanwhile a noise like the clucking 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 

 ff changes, and with a harsh growl he drives her to a place in 

 " his harem. This continues until the lower row of harems is 

 '' nearly full. Then the males higher up select the time when 

 " their more fortunate neighbours are off their guard to steal 

 " their wives. This they do by taking them in their mouths 

 " and lifting them over the heads of the other females, and 

 " carefully placing them in their own harem, carrying them as 

 " cats do their kittens. Those still higher up pursue the same 

 * method until the whole space is occupied. Frequently a 

 " struggle ensues between two males for the possession of the 

 " same female, and both seizing her at once pull her in two or 

 " terribly lacerate her with their teeth. When the space is all 

 " filled, the old male walks around complacently reviewing his 

 " family, scolding those who crowd or disturb the others, and 

 " fiercely driving off all intruders. This surveillance always 

 " keeps him actively occupied." 



As so little is known about the courtship of animals' in a state 

 of nature, I have endeavoured to discover how far our domesti- 

 cated quadrupeds evince any choice in their unions. Dogs 

 offer the best opportunity for observation, as they are carefully 

 attended to and well understand. Many breeders have expressed 

 a strong opinion on this head. Thus, Mr. Mayhew remarks, 

 " The females are able to bestow their affections ; and tender 

 " recollections are as potent over them as they are known to be 

 " in other cases, where higher animals are concerned. Bitches 

 " are not always prudent in their loves, but are apt to fling 

 u themselves away on curs of low degree. If reared with a 

 " companion of vulgar appearance, there often springs up 

 " between the pair a devotion which no time can afterwards 

 u subdue. The passion, for such it really is, becomes of a more 

 u than romantic endurance." Mr. Mayhew, who attended 

 chiefly to the smaller breeds, is convinced that the females are 



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

 States,' vol. ii. No. 1, p. 99. 



