PRE-COPULATORY DISPLAYS 15 
This, in fact, is the meaning of such display, 
its purpose. 
Direct evidence of this is, and possibly must 
always be, wanting. 
The period of destruction of an animal 
forms so minute a portion of its whole life, 
that a single person, even if constantly observ- 
ing, could record only a few deaths, and of 
these only a small percentage would be deaths 
of either male or female during sexual display. 
Experiments could be arranged to test the 
theory. Pairs of animals could be subjected 
to their enemies. 
Although direct evidence is wanting, some 
indirect evidence appears to give support. 
To the vast majority of animals man is 
an enemy. His presence causes them to 
stop doing the affair of the day, and to 
seek cover. But his presence often does 
not cause the cessation of pre-copulatory 
displays; on the other hand it may cause 
them to be more vigorously performed. 
In fact his presence calls forth this male 
reaction as powerfully as the presence of 
the female. Numerous examples have been 
recorded of display in the absence of the 
female, and when only man or an enemy 
is at hand. 
