190 DIVERSIONS OF A NATURALIST 



dividual, are found to be explained as due to structures 

 (nervous or other) implanted in the race by natural 

 selection, because, and in consequence of, the fact that 

 they tend to the satisfaction of mate-hunger, and conse- 

 quently to the preservation of the race. 



The fact that the male animal seeks out the female 

 in order to mate with her leads to a competition 

 amongst males in " courtship," both in man and in the 

 higher and lower grades of the animal series. " Court- 

 ship " comprises many procedures. Among them are 

 the seizing and sometimes carrying off of the female by 

 the mate-seeking male ; or else the attraction of the 

 attention of the female by the male, and her subsequent 

 fascination by him, followed by her responsive excitement 

 and assent to union. Fighting, often to the death, between 

 rival suitors not un frequently occurs. 



Any animal practising the first of these arts of 

 courtship must have developed greater strength and size 

 than the female, and special claws or jaws or prehensile 

 limbs which will become emphasized and increased in 

 size by the success of the better-endowed males, and 

 their consequent " natural selection " as parents. This 

 elementary and violent form of courtship is found in 

 primitive man, and is inferred to exist amongst the 

 higher apes. It is also seen in many mammals, and in 

 frogs and toads, and in some of the Crustacea and insects 

 which are provided with powerful claws, jaws, or limbs. 



The second set of " courtship " activities mentioned 

 above, which are of a persuasive (often hypnotic) and 

 non-violent nature, are more widely distributed and 

 varied. They include a number which come under the 

 general head of " display," whether the appeal be by 



