COURTSHIP IN ANIMALS AND MAN 191 



sound (the voice), by odour, or by strange antics and 

 gorgeous colour. They involve the production of the 

 most remarkable special structures ; and by their appeal 

 to the human sense of hearing, smell, and sight are in 

 many cases well known and familiar to us. Following 

 upon " display " are what may be classed as " caresses " 

 — attempts to soothe and to subjugate the female by the 

 sense of touch. 



The third kind of activity developed in " courtship " 

 is that of fighting — fighting to the death with other suitors. 

 It involves the production of all those natural weapons, 

 horns, tusks, and special claws or spurs with which male 

 animals fight one another at the breeding season. It 

 also involves that perfection of muscular strength, 

 rapidity, and skill in action which have enabled one 

 male to triumph over others, and whilst destroying or 

 banishing his less perfect opponent to transmit his own 

 superior qualities to his offspring. It seems that to this 

 incessantly recurring and relentless struggle between 

 males, in courtship for the favour of the female, more 

 rapid and important changes and developments of 

 animal structure and endowments are due than to the 

 more obvious competition for food, safety from enemies, 

 and shelter. Thus muscular power, grasping and ag- 

 gressive weapons, wonderful colours, forms and patterns 

 which catch the eye, perfumes and powers of song and 

 arresting cries, instinctive antics and caresses, have been 

 developed in the males and transmitted to some extent 

 to both sexes, but predominantly to the males. 



Mr. Pycraft, in his book on this subject,^ remarks 

 [ that the tremendous power of " mate-hunger " has been 

 overlooked by a strange confusion of cause and effect. 

 ^ "The Courtship of Animals," Hutchinson, 1913. 



