I 

 596 THE DESCENT OF MAN. 



It is scarcely possible that much should be known about 

 female quadrupeds in a state of nature making any choice 

 in their marriage unions. The following curious details 

 on the courtship* of one of the eared seals (Callorlnnus 

 iirsimis) are given* on the authority of Capt. Bryant, who 

 liad 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 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 man- 

 ner changes and witii a harsh growl heflrives her to a place 

 in his harem. This continues until the lower row of 

 liarems is nearly full. Then the males higher up select 

 the time when their more fortunate neighbors 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 occu- 

 pied. 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 endeavored to discover how far our 

 domesticated quadrupeds evince any choice in their unions. 

 Dogs offer the best opportunity for observation, as they 

 are carefully attended to and well understood. Many 

 breeders have expressed a strong opinion on this head. 

 Thus, Mr. May hew remarks: ^' The females are able to 



*Mr. J. A. Allen in "Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoolog. of Cambridge, 

 United States," vol. ii, No, 1, p. 99. 



