SELECTION OF MATES 



193 



combat, ultimately separate, not a limb the worse, 

 though with an understanding, no doubt the original 

 conviction, that one is superior to the other. The 

 victor now performs the most striking advance in 

 order to impress yet more fully his desired mate with 

 a sense of his beauty and prowess. With his forelegs 

 extended upwards and his tail elevated he advances, 

 and then in front of the mate he seeks, performs 

 a frog-dance alternately with his right and left foot, 

 displaying most fully thereby any striking marks or 

 peculiarities that he possesses. 



But the lady's choice is not at once made. Usually 

 a second suitor is allowed to perform his approach 

 and love-dance, and only then is the match made. 



In such cases the chosen mate is, even to our 

 eyes, the more glorious, and by virtue of such choice 

 the spider obtains a peculiar advantage by at once 

 setting up house. She gains not only the most 

 vigorous mate, but the first choice of site and an 

 early supply of the juiciest flies. The male spider, 

 meantime, having accomplished his fascination, dies 

 in the course of a few days, or falls a victim to the 

 ravenous hunger of his larger mate. 



Some such test of beauty, strength, or agility 

 most suitors have to pass. The stag does battle with 

 his fellows through the October nights, and when the 

 strife is over the victor is acknowledged as lord, both 

 by his disappointed rivals and by his herd. The bulls 

 of many animals test their strength by battle. In 

 such fashion many seals are maimed before the strongest 



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