MENTAL IMAGE OF THE FEMALE 79 



that no such image is the primary factor in 

 exciting the instinctive reaction. For if it be 

 the actual presence of the female, or, in the 

 absence of such, a mental image, that renders 

 the pugnacious nature of the male responsive ; 

 provided the usual stimulus were present, the 

 instinct ought surely to respond, not only under 

 one particular circumstance, but under all 

 circumstances. Yet, as we shall presently see, 

 a male is by no means consistently intolerant 

 of other males. It mav be sociable at one 

 moment or pugnacious at another, but the 

 pugnacity is always peculiar to a certain 

 occasion — the occupation of a territory. What 

 shall we say then — that a mental image is a 

 situational item only when the territory is 

 occupied ? It may be so ; it may be that the 

 fact of occupation gives rise to the mental image 

 which, in its turn, renders the fighting instinct 

 explosive, which again renders the possession 

 of the territory secure. That such an inter- 

 pretation is possible we must all admit. But 

 if it were true, though it would not affect 

 the main consideration, namely, whether the 

 fighting has reference to the possession of a 

 particular female, or to the protection of the 

 territory, it would make further discussion as 

 to which of these is the condition of the fighting 

 unprofitable, for each would have its part to 

 play in the process, the territory remaining, 

 however, the principal factor in the situation. 



Now the difference in the times of arrival 

 of the male and female migrant varies in 



