PRE-COPULATORY DISPLAYS 75 



This, in fact, is the meaning of such display, 

 its purpose. 



Direct evidence of this is, and possibly must 

 always be, wanting. 



The period of destruction of an animal 

 forms so minute a portion of its whole life, 

 that a single person, even if constantly observ- 

 ing, could record only a few deaths, and of 

 these only a small percentage would be deaths 

 of either male or female during sexual display. 

 Experiments could be arranged to test the 

 theory. Pairs of animals could be subjected 

 to their enemies. 



Although direct evidence is wanting, some 

 indirect evidence appears to give support. 

 To the vast majority of animals man is 

 an enemy. His presence causes them to 

 stop doing the affair of the day, and to 

 seek cover. But his presence often does 

 not cause the cessation of pre-copulatory 

 displays ; on the other hand it may cause 

 them to be more vigorously performed. 

 In fact his presence calls forth this male 

 reaction as powerfully as the presence of 

 the female. Numerous examples have been 

 recorded of display in the absence of the 

 female, and when only man or an enemy 

 is at hand. 



