SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS 115 



duets of the oven-birds and the duets and choruses of 

 nearly all the wood-hewers, and the wing-slapping 

 aerial displays of the whistling widgeons, — will it be 

 seriously contended that the female of this species 

 makes choice of the male able to administer the most 

 vigorous and artistic slaps?" 



He continues: ^'How unfair the argument is, 

 based on these carefully selected cases, gathered from 

 all regions of the globe, and often not properly reported, 

 is seen when we turn to the book of nature and closely 

 consider the habits and actions of all the species in- 

 habiting any one district." Hudson concludes that he 

 is convinced that anybody who will note the actions of 

 animals for himself will reach the conviction, that 

 ^^ conscious sexual selection on the part of the female 

 is not the cause of music and dancing performances in 

 birds, nor of the brighter colors and ornaments that 

 distinguish the male." 



In the spiders Mr. and Mrs. Peckham have described 

 in detail the courtship of the males. They believe 

 that his antics are specifically intended to attract the 

 female. They point out that his contortions are of 

 such a sort that his brightest spots are turned toward 

 the female. But, as he makes in any case a hundred 

 twists and turns, there is some danger of misinterpret- 

 ing his poses. Montgomery, who has studied spiders 

 of other groups, reaches the conclusion that here the 

 male is contorted through fear of the female. The male 

 goes through some of the same turns if approached by 

 another male. The courtship of the male spider is, 

 he thinks, a motley of fear, desire, and general 

 excitement. 



