140 THE COURTSHIP OF ANIMALS 



here is an elaborate mechanism evolved in response to extra- 

 personal needs : and which cannot be regarded as of exactly 

 the same configuration as the instinct to feed the young. 



A return must be made to the nature of the early phases 

 in the procession of the reproductive instincts. Mr. 

 Howard's study of the Warblers seems to show conclusively 

 that these first manifest themselves in an overmastering 

 desire to seize upon territory large enough to ensure an 

 abundance of food for the offspring that are yet to be. 

 To this end the males arrive from their far-distant winter 

 quarters at least a week in advance of the females. Since 

 each returns approximately to the scene of last year's 

 nursery, the arrivals are fairly distributed at the first ; 

 but nevertheless this distribution inevitably brings a 

 conflict of interests between one or more males, perchance 

 young birds about to start in life, and having therefore 

 no definite objective. But whatever the reason, the 

 competition is there. The strongest male remains in 

 possession, and immediately commences to express the 

 ecstasy of feeling which possesses him in continuous 

 outbursts of song. Such, doubtless, answer to the bellow- 

 ing of the male stag. They advertise the presence of 

 a male to the female, who, as she arrives, would seem 

 to be already stirred by the rising storm of sexual desire, 

 for having once discovered a male in possession of the 

 all-necessary site for the nest, and the equally necessary 

 domain, each settles down to conjugal bliss : within 

 twenty-four hours the task of building has begun. There 

 is evidently here no sexual selection in Darwin's sense : 

 no choice from among a number of males of the individual 

 which most excites desire within her; but the mating 

 of the most mettlesome, most virile males has been 

 determined before her arrival and by a double sieve. In 



