I lo Life and Love. 



Skin growths of an abnormal nature are frequent 

 in some animals. In certain crustaceans, as we 

 have seen, the skin is modified to such an extent 

 that the female uses it as a nursery for her young. 



In the Surinam toad, the eggs having been 

 placed by the male upon the back of the female, 

 the skin grows up about them, entirely covering 

 them and so affording safe asylum for their devel- 

 opment. Certain animals possess pouches \\hich 

 are a result of this excessive skin growth, and 

 which they use to rear their young. 



Although the skin of the female is often greatly 

 modified at the reproductive season, and these 

 modifications have been taken advantage of and 

 developed by use to serve as aids in the rearing of 

 offspring, the male is on the whole most markedly 

 affected by skin outgrowths. 



Nearly all male birds have excessive feather 

 developments ; long tail-feathers, crests, plumes, 

 long wing-feathers are common, and sometimes the 

 bird is so cumbered with finery as to be a burden 

 to himself. Japan, for instance, rejoices in a cock 

 whose tail-feathers are many times longer than his 

 body. 



These feather growths and the bright colors, 

 originating doubtless in the extra male activity, 

 and then developed, it maybe, through inheritance 

 by the discerning love of beauty shown by the 

 female in her choice of a mate, have given to the 

 world the varied beauty of the birds. 



