CHAPTER VII 
PRE-COPULATORY DISPLAYS 
BEFORE copulation, the male commonly makes 
some display ; such are often called the dis- 
plays of courtship, implying an association 
with mating ; but as many animals mate only 
once in a lifetime or in a season, whilst these 
displays are made before each copulation, they 
are better described by being called Pre- 
copulatory Displays. A study of them shows 
that they undoubtedly render the male con- 
spicuous and purposely so. All the methods 
mentioned in Chapters II and III are em- 
ployed: movements are made, forms assumed, 
attitudes struck, sounds produced, scents 
secreted and vivid colours are laid bare, 
all of which make the male conspicuous in 
Nature. The female, during this display of 
the male, remains silent and motionless, and 
usually more or less concealed. 
Here, then, is material to which the Theory 
can be applied: Two individuals, male and 
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