84 THE PLAY OF ANIMALS. 



possible here; indeed, I have confined myself in essen- 

 tials to phenomena from the life of the higher orders, 

 because the play of the lower ones seems to me to 

 be too litle known. I have multiplied examples in 

 those departments where errors of judgment are most 

 liable to occur, and can only be set right by such ful- 

 ness of detail. I am afraid that this result has not 

 always been accomplished, however, and in the case 

 of the so-called love-plays the material was so copious 

 as to compel me to suppress much that was interest- 

 ing. 



There is no difficulty in classifying our subject if 

 the conception developed in the preceding chapters is 

 accepted. I hope that no essential group has been 

 left out of the following table: 



1. Experimentation. 



2. Movement plays. 



3. Hunting plays: 



a. With real living prey. 



b. With living mock prey. 



c. With lifeless mock prey. 



4. Fighting plays: 



a. Teasing. 



b. Tussling among young animals. 



c. Playful fighting among grown animals. 



5. Love plays: 



a. Among young animals. 



b. Rhythmical movements. 



c. The display of beautiful and unusual colours 



and forms. 



d. The production of calls and notes. 



e. The coquetry of the female. 



6. Constructive arts. 



7. Nursing plays. 



