78 THE COURTSHIP OF ANIMALS 



as a shield to protect the great blood-vessels from injury 

 during battles between rivals. But it is not very clear 

 that this alone is sufficient to explain its presence, inas- 

 much as the Tiger in this respect is defenceless. Mr. F. C. 

 Selous long ago pointed out that the varying abundance 

 of the mane is due to climatic causes. Lions which live in 

 districts where the nights are very cold, as in high table- 

 lands, have large manes ; those which occupy lower 

 ground, where the nights are relatively warm, have but a 

 scanty mane. It is clear, however, that the abundance 

 of the mane is not determined by the need for warmth, 

 otherwise it would have been as well developed in the 

 female. Rather we must regard a low temperature 

 as conducive to the growth of long hair when a natural 

 tendency to produce this is present. 



There are few men who can claim to have so great a 

 first-hand acquaintance with Lions as Mr. Selous, and 

 he has pointed out to me one significant fact which seems 

 to show not only that the mane has not been developed 

 to serve as a shield when fighting, but that fights between 

 rival males must be rare. And this because of the 

 absence of any evidence in the shape of scars on the skin. 

 With claws so formidable as those of the Hon, ugly 

 wounds would certainly be made in any prolonged conflicts, 

 for the skin of this animal is very thin. 



In the now extinct Sabre-toothed Tiger the upper 

 canines were of enormous length, and it is not improbable 

 that they, on this account, exceeded the bounds of useful- 

 ness; that, while as weapons of offence they may have 

 proved exceedingly effective, yet they hampered the animal 

 when feeding. In many ways one is reminded by these 

 weapons of the huge tusks of the Walrus. These are 

 blunt-pointed, and are said to be used very largely for 



