132 THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES 



for the possession of the females; male salmons have 

 been observed ligliting all clay long; male stag-beetles 

 sometimes bear wounds from the huge mandibles of other 

 males; the males of certain hymenopterous insects have 

 been frequently seen by that inimitable observer, M. 

 Fabre, fighting for a particular female who sits by, 

 an apparently unconcerned beholder of the struggle, 

 and then retires with the conqueror. The war is, per- 

 haps, severest between the males of polygamous animals, 

 and these seem oftenest provided with special weapons. 

 The males of carnivorous animals are already well armed; 

 though to them and to others special means of defence 

 may be given through means of sexual selection, as the 

 mane of the lion and the hooked jaw to the male salmon; 

 for the shield may be as important for victory as the 

 sword or spear. 



Among birds, the contest is often of a more peaceful 

 character. All those who have attended to the subject, 

 believe that there is the severest rivalry between the 

 males of many species to attract, by singing, the females. 

 The rock-thrush of Guiana, birds of paradise, and some 

 others, congregate; and successive males display with the 

 most elaborate care, and show off in the best manner, 

 their gorgeous plumage; they likewise perform strange 

 antics before the females, which, standing by as specta- 

 tors, at last choose the most attractive partner. Those 

 who have closely attended to birds in confinement well 

 know that they often take individual preferences and 

 dislikes: thus Sir K. Heron has described how a pied 

 peacock was eminently attractive to all his hen birds. 

 I cannot here enter on the necessary details; but if man 

 can in a short time give beauty and an elegant carriage 



