CHAPTER I 

 MATING 



COURTSHIP is only an introduction, a preparation for 

 the more important function of mating. It is the 

 task of courtship to bring the two beings, male and 

 female, into the appropriate state for mating. Mating 

 serves the purpose of reproduction and race propaga- 

 tion. We can distinguish different methods of repro- 

 duction, which can be roughly divided into two 

 groups, asexual and sexual reproduction. 



In order to be able to follow the modes of repro- 

 duction, it is essential to know at least the most 

 elementary biological facts of life. All living organ- 

 isms are composed of cells. A cell is the smallest 

 organic particle capable of life. There are organisms 

 which consist only of a single cell; these are called 

 unicellular organisms. They form the lowest plants 

 and animals in existence, and are generally of micro- 

 scopic size. Then there are the multicellular plants 

 and animals (practically the bulk of living organisms 

 around us), which consist of a mass of cells combined 

 into one single body. The various cells assume, in 

 the development of the plant and animal species, 

 different size, shape, structure, and function; each 

 part of the body (as for instance, the skin, bones, 

 muscle, the sense organs, nerves, brain, etc.) being 

 formed by special kinds of cells.* 



* See for further details ( ' The Story of Life's Mechanism/' by 

 JJ. W, Conn. London, 1899. 



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