CHAPTER XXIII 

 COURTSHIP, INSTINCT AND REASON 



APART from the familiar instances of male colour- 

 decoration afforded by birds, we find that even 

 some of the minute water-fleas inhabiting freshwater 

 lakes and the sea, and known as Crustacea Entomos- 

 traca, put on a courting dress at the breeding season ; 

 that is to say, the males become brilliantly coloured 

 with patches of red and blue. And among the highest 

 mammals we find that the same colours are, in some 

 cases, displayed by the males as a fascination to the 

 females. This is the case with the males of some of 

 the baboons, though not with those of the highest man- 

 like apes, who, like the primitive " savage " man, have 

 no decoration, no pretty seductive ways appealing to 

 either the eye or the ear, but rely on their strength and 

 ferocity to overawe and paralyze the female. In the 

 male " mandrill " baboon the skin of the sides of the great 

 snout is of a deep blue colour, whilst the nose and a 

 tract behind it is wax-like and bright red. Not only 

 that, but the buttocks are brilliantly coloured, a central 

 red area passing at the sides through rich purple to 

 pale blue. The animal, which is often to be seen in 

 menageries, is evidently proud of this finely-coloured 

 region of his body, and turns it to a visitor and remains 

 quietly posed, so that it may be well seen and duly 

 admired. The hind-quarters of other monkeys, both 



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