CHAPTER XXII 

 COURTSHIP AND DISPLAY 



THE "displays" made by male birds and by some 

 other animals which lead to the " fascination " of 

 the females, and apparently to a condition similar to 

 that which is called " hypnotic " in man, are very remark- 

 able. One is tempted to say that these " displays " are 

 made " for the purpose " of fascinating the female. But 

 though that would be correct in describing similar pro- 

 ceedings on the part of a human " gallant," it is not 

 strictly so in the case of animals, any more than it is 

 true that a bird grows its fine plumage " for the purpose " 

 of attracting the female. The male bird finds itself 

 provided with fine feathers, and has probably a brief 

 conscious pleasure in the fact, just as it has in singing, 

 but it has, of course, no control over the growth of 

 its feathers, nor conscious purpose in their production. 

 Similarly, it has no knowledge or consciousness of a 

 purpose in the antics of " display," nor in singing its 

 melodious song, though certainly it is gratified, and has 

 pleasurable sensations in the instinctive performances 

 which it finds itself going through. The great French 

 entomologist, Fabre, who has more minutely and 

 thoroughly studied the wonderful proceedings of insects 

 in regard to these matters and others, such as nest 

 building, care and provision for young, deliberately says, 

 " lis ne savent rien de rien " — they know nothing about 



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