COURTSHIP AND SEX 231 



for the abnormal behaviour of one hen treading another hen, 

 which is probably due to an assertion of latent masculinity, 

 normally kept in check by the hormone of the ovary. 



Secondary sex-characters may differ in their relations 

 to the puberty gland (which produces the gonadial hor- 

 mones). Thus A. Lipschiitz (1917) divides the sex- 

 characters of Vertebrates into two groups : (i) sex- 

 characters not dependent on the puberty gland, but the 

 outcome of the characters of the hypothetical non-sexual 

 embryonic form ; in other words, parts of the racial in- 

 heritance ; and (2) sex-characters dependent on the hormones 

 of the puberty gland, which evoke them by acting on the 

 hypothetical non-sexual embryonic form, either in the way 

 of provocation or of inhibition. A castrated cock develops 

 the characteristic plumage and spurs ; which suggests that 

 these two characters are not dependent on the gonadial 

 stimulus. A castrated hen assumes the plumage and spurs 

 of a cock, and Lipschiitz 's view is that in normal conditions 

 the female gonadial internal secretion changes a possible 

 male-like plumage into a female one and inhibits the growth 

 of the spurs. It appears to us that if the facts are quite 

 correct it would be simpler to say that the factors for spurs, 

 for instance, are parts of the racial inheritance, which find 

 full developmental expression only in a male constitution 

 (hormones included), being inhibited in a female constitution 

 (hormones included). 



The transformation that may ensue after the removal 

 of the ovary is sometimes extraordinary. The unsexed 

 female bird may become much more masculine than feminine. 

 Thus C. C. Guthrie (19 10) describes a case of a pullet from 

 which the ovary was removed : " The pullet acquired not 

 only the outward anatomical features of a cock — cock's comb, 

 wattles, long hackle and tail feathers, rapidly developing 

 spurs, carriage, etc. — but the behaviour as well was that of a 

 male ; it exhibited a pugnacious attitude towards cocks, was 

 attracted to hens, and even went so far as to tread hens as a 

 cock." 



Pezard points out (19 15) that a capon and a castrated 



