44 THE COURTSHIP OF ANIMALS 



the Baboons, while in some of th^ New-world monkeys 

 voice production of quite remarkable power takes the 

 place of ornament. 



The precise part played by ornament among these 

 animals can only be inferred from Darwin's observations 

 on captive animals, and then only in so far as they refer 

 to colour. Manes, beards and moustaches, such as are 

 shown in the adjoining illustrations, are borne only by 

 the males, and sometimes take extravagant forms. 



Darwin suggested that the mane of the Baboons, for 

 example, served as a shield when fighting with rivals, 

 protecting the great blood-vessels from injury. Incident- 

 ally this end may be attained, but from what we know 

 of similar developments in other animals, this cannot 

 be regarded as the primary function of the mane. One 

 is tempted to look upon it as a protective device because 

 of its position, but it is probably no more so than is the 

 long flowing hair which adorns the flanks of the Guereza. 

 This is of a purely ornamental character, although, 

 according to some, it is to be reckoned as an instance of 

 protective coloration, the long white hair matching 

 the long pendant masses of lichen which hang from the 

 boughs of the trees in the damp forests where these 

 creatures live, and so concealing them from their enemies. 

 Of beards and moustaches many examples might be 

 cited, but the most striking must suffice. These are fur- 

 nished by the Satan Monkey or Black Saki {Pithecia 

 satanas), and the little Tamarin Monkey {Midas imperator) 

 — one of the Marmosets. In the first-named the beard is 

 thick and full, but in the latter scanty. This, however, 

 is atoned for by the enormous upwardly curled moustache 

 giving the face a most comically human appearance. 



In the development of briUiantly-coloured areas of 



