72 GRAND STRATEGY OF EVOLUTION 



the mechanism is accomplished, for in the momentary 

 confusion which follows, the astonished official is 

 anointed with resinous materials, one of the by-products 

 of the household, and by this fitting instrument are at- 

 tached to his person, as it were by accident, the lovers' 

 tokens. 



The whole reaction of the official is now reversed. 

 What formerly attracted now repels. He suddenly be- 

 comes what is known to the experimental biologist as 

 negatively thigmotactic. Under the influence of this 

 reaction he hastily leaves the house and seeks the shelter 

 of more familiar surroundings, incidentally conveying 

 the virile tokens to an expectant lover in his own house- 

 hold. Thus a regular channel of conveyance may be 

 established between two imprisoned lovers; for the in- 

 nate reactions of these state officials are not seriously 

 injured, or permanently destroyed by the performance 

 of their incidental functions. In fact, their experiences, 

 on the whole, are enjoyable and profitable to them, and 

 they are not overburdened by the consciousness of their 

 incidental services. 



Judging from the way similar devices in the or- 

 ganic world are exploited to the limits of their capacity, 

 it is not perhaps impossible that out of some such in- 

 genious aid to sexual conveyance, a new class of animals 

 might arise, and on it a new kind of civilization be up- 

 built, not greatly different from our own. In that case 

 every detail in the maze of events might be highly 

 elaborated and beautified through the process of nat- 

 ural selection. Lyrics might be sung in their praises ; 

 comedies and tragedies written to caricature their in- 

 evitable incidents; scientists might earn their pittance 

 in measuring and cataloging its civilizing materials and 



