470 COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE. 



mating or pairing of the lower animals is the choice of a 

 mate so frequently made for instance, among birds by the 

 female. This choice is determined in some cases, just as in 

 woman, by caprice; it is impossible to give any rational 

 explanation of the preference made. But in a much larger 

 proportion of cases than in woman the selection made is, or 

 appears to be, determined by reasons that are not only in- 

 telligible but commendable. These reasons include, for 

 instance 



1. The personal beauty of the male the gorgeousness of 

 his plumage more especially. 



2. The charms of his song. 



3. His physical strength and, associated with it, his 

 courage, his ability to protect and provide for his mate. 



4. Other physical characters such as size, form, and 

 colour peculiarities. 



5. His sagacity and experience, or other mental or moral 

 qualities or acquisitions. 



The female frequently exercises the utmost deliberation 

 involving perhaps caution in her choice of a mate. She 

 reviews the personal advantages of her male suitors. The 

 female bird obviously looks, in the first place, for a congenial 

 helpmate and protector a male whom she can at once 

 admire, trust, and respect ; and it were well if womankind 

 were always as judicious in their principle of selection, where 

 any principle is at all adopted. No doubt in certain cases 

 and senses the choice of the female animal may be said to 

 be determined by a consideration for her personal comfort 

 or interest in other words, by selfishness. Nevertheless, 

 whether or not the principle of selection be considered a 

 selfish one, its beneficence cannot be doubted : the results of 

 such selections are, on the whole, good. It may happen, 

 however, as in woman, that the excellences, whether mental 

 or physical, which the female animal sees in her suitor, are 

 apparent rather than real; that she deceives herself, and 

 perhaps, like her human sisters, 'marries in haste and 

 repents at leisure.' This is only tantamount, however, to 

 saying that the frequent and serious errors of animals, as of 

 man, extend to matters amatory and matrimonial. 



