254 BEACH GRASS 



ing to do, that she is attracted and influenced by 

 these, even if only in a reflex or sub-conscious 

 way, we have practically admitted the truth of 

 Darwin's theory. The fittest male in any or all 

 of these respects will be more likely to perpetuate 

 the race. 



The motives of dislay of color, dance and song 

 are easily understood, for in one form or another 

 they have all been used in human courtship. The 

 likenesses are fundamental and extend from the 

 lowest to the highest in the human species, but 

 are most strikingly seen in the lowest, more primi- 

 tive races. 



Although at the present day and among the 

 highest developed human races the display of 

 bright colors is more marked among the females 

 than the males, it must be remembered that this 

 is a recent development. Only a few generations 

 back the males, instead of wearing black or som- 

 bre clothing, were as brilliantly apparelled as 

 the females, and among savages it is the male 

 that is strikingly bedecked with feathers, tattoo 

 markings and paint, while the female is quiet 

 enough in her apparel or lack of apparel. The 



