COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE. 477 



says Wood, is 'pride in personal appearance developed as 

 strongly as it could be in any human being. Moreover, the 

 bird could sufficiently enter into the feelings of the specta- 

 tors to understand that they were admiring its beauty, and 

 to exult in the admiration.' 



Associated with vanity there is sometimes a great sus- 

 ceptibility io flattery in many parrots and cockatoos, that at 

 once, when asked by man, expand their wings so as to show 

 off their beauty and size ( 6 Chambers's Journal ') . Self- 

 conceit is occasionally such as to lead to sad self-deception, 

 to delusion, and even to fatal disappointments as, for in- 

 stance, when animals believe their personal charms to be 

 irresistible. 



The necessity for the presence of spectators and for 

 admiration on their part is as obvious frequently in the 

 love or other exhibitions of various birds or other animals 

 as in man or woman. In the case of courtship there is an 

 ulterior object in view, but in other cases there is none or 

 at least none intelligible or apparent beyond the admira- 

 tion called forth, and the homage thereby paid to self-esteem. 

 Chillingham .bulls perform their duels before cow spectators, 

 just as human rivals figure at a tourney (Aylmer). The 

 mandrill, drill, and other baboons or monkeys display their, 

 coloured nates, and if this display be ' made before two 

 observers, they turn to him who seems to pay the most 

 attention ' (Yon Fischer). They require admiration as much 

 as does the girl-child who shows off her last new frock or 

 doll. There is a necessity for the appreciation of effort the 

 trouble bestowed on which is regarded as thrown away if 

 the effort itself be not duly observed, or, if observed, not 

 duly appreciated. 



Many animals solicit, and some of them demand attention 

 or recognition from man; and though this is not always with a 

 view to his admiration of themselves, or their offspring, or the 

 doings of either, the procedure very often appears to have 

 such admiration as its immediate or ulterior object. Certain 

 birds and other animals even enforce attentions from each 

 other for instance, females from males. The canary does 

 so imperiously and effectually with her beak ; and it is pro- 



