518 THE DESCENT OF MAN. 



the female selects her partner; and it would be a strange anom- 

 aly if female quadrupeds, whicli stand higher in the scale and 

 have higher mental powers, did not generally, or at least often, 

 exert some choice. The female could in most cases escape, if 

 wooed by a male that did not please or excite her; and when pur- 

 sued by several males, as commonly occurs, she would often have 

 the opportunity, whilst they were fighting together, of escaping 

 with some one male, or at least of temporarily pairing with him. 

 This latter contingency has often been observed in Scotland 

 with female red-deer, as I am informed by Sir Philip Egerton 

 and others." 



It Is scarcely possible that much should be known about fe- 

 male quadrupeds in a state of nature making any choice in their 

 marriage unions. The following curious details on the courtship 

 of one of the eared seals (Callorhlnus ursinus) are given" on 

 the authority of Capt. Bryant, who had ample opportunities for 

 observation. He says, "Many of the females on their arrival at 

 "the island where they breed appear desirous of returning to 

 "some particular male, and frequently climb the outlying rocks 

 "to overlook the rookeries, calling out and listening as if for a 

 "familiar voice. Then changing to another place they do the 

 "same again. ... As soon as a female reaches the shore, the 

 "nearest male goes down to meet her, making meanwhile a noise 

 "like the clucking of a hen to her chickens. He bows to her and 

 "coaxes her until he gets between her and the water so that she 

 "cannot escape him. Then his manner changes, and with a 

 "harsh growl he drives her to a place in his harem. This con- 

 "tinues until the lower row of harems is nearly full. Then the 

 "males higher up select the time when their more fortunate 

 "neighbors are off their guard to steal their wives. This they 

 "do by taking them in their mouths and lifting them over the 

 "heads of the other females, and carefully placing them In their 

 "own harem, carrying them as cats do their kittens. Those still 

 "higher up pursue the same method until the whole space is occu- 

 "pied. Frequently a struggle ensues between two males for the 

 "possession of the same female, and both seizing her at once 

 "pull her in two or terribly lacerate her with their teeth. When 

 "the space is all filled, the old male walks around complacently 

 "reviewing his family, scolding those who crowd or disturb the 



•" Mr. Boner, in his excellent description of the habits of the red- 

 deer In Germany ('Forest Creatures," 1861, p. 81) says, "while the stag 

 "is defending his rights against one intruder, another invades the 

 •'sanctuary of his harem, and carries off trophy after trophy." Ex- 

 actly the same thing occurs with seals, see Mr. J. A. Allen, Ibid. p. 100. 



« Mr. J. A. Allen in 'Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoolog. of Cambridge, United 

 States," vol. ii. No. 1, p. 99. 



