1 62 PROBLEMS OF EVOLUTION 



What evidence, however, is there that the hen-bird does 

 exercise a choice, and does not merely submit to the stronger 

 or to the first-comer ? 



Darwin has collected some ; it must be owned that it does not 

 amount to very much. On such a subject how could much be 

 expected in the way of direct evidence ? But there is much 

 that makes it a priori probable that personal preference very 

 commonly comes into play. In the first place, we must re- 

 member the comparative indifference of the female and the 

 power that she in many cases has of escaping from her 

 admirers. It is known that they often present themselves in 

 numbers. The conditions, therefore, are such as to stimulate 

 suitors to a competitive display. They have often, it would 

 seem, to excite desire and personal preference, and unless 

 we assume that they succeed in winning some sort of affection, 

 the habit of pairing is very difficult to explain. It is impossible 

 to watch the mutual caresses of pigeons that have paired with- 

 out being convinced that they are fond of one another, and 

 there is further evidence in the fact that, when they have reared 

 their young, they do not seek new mates but continue paired. 

 The marvellous love antics of cock birds, their frenzied dances, 

 their displays of plumage, their ecstatic songs are all means of 

 rousing the hens from apathy. It has been urged as an argu- 

 ment against Darwin's theory that a peahen will stand by in 

 utter indifference during the self-display of the peacock. But if 

 even that does not always charm her, what chance is there for 

 a less brilliant suitor ? Anyone who refuses to follow Darwin 

 here must, when he sees a peacock in his glory, hold that the 

 trouble, the colour, the plumage are so much waste or worse 

 than waste. This is surely an unreasonable attitude, when we 

 know that adaptation is the rule in the organic world. And in 

 this case the object in view, the bringing of the sexes together, is 

 of paramount importance, and since the object is attained some- 

 how, why not by means of the adornments of the males, which 

 are useful for no other purpose, and which he visibly makes the 

 most of at the time of courtship ? 



Professor Lloyd Morgan quotes from American observers some 



