CHAPTER IT 



The use of the term " Courtship " — Primitive Man and the 

 Foundations of Society — " Amorousness " as a motive force 

 — Polygamy — Our half human ancestors — Standards of Beauty 

 — Disquieting signs. 



Our ideas on the subject of the " Courtship " of animals 

 are of necessity largely framed on what has been 

 observed by each of us in regard to our own race ; and 

 without any very careful analysis of motives, or thought 

 of what lies behind. But no real insight into this most 

 tremendous subject can be gained which does not strive 

 to penetrate beyond what is actually seen ; which does 

 not endeavour to get at the source of conduct in this 

 regard. ^ * 



^ " Courtship '* is the word we commonly employ to 

 describe the act of wooing ; and in civilized human society 

 at any rate, the intensity of the emotions which inspire 

 the desire to woo are held in restraint by a variety of 

 causes — and hence the " Courtship.'* In the lower 

 animals it is a moot point whether the term " Courtship " 

 can be accurately applied. They are governed by nt? 

 conventions, for them there is neither modesty nor 

 immodesty. Desire with them is not made to walk 



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