SEXUAL SELECTION 675 



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 continues 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 

 occupied. 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 others, and fiercely driving off 

 all intruders. This surveillance always keeps him actively 

 occupied." 



As so little is known about the courtship of animals in a 

 state of nature, I have endeavored to discover how far our 

 domesticated quadrupeds evince any choice in their unions. 

 Dogs offer the best opportunity for observation, as they are 

 carefully attended to and well understood. Many breeders 

 have expressed a strong opinion on this head. Thus, Mr. 

 May hew remarks: "The females are able to bestow their 

 affections; and tender recollections are as potent over them 

 as they are known to be in other cases, where higher ani- 

 mals are concerned. Bitches are not always prudent in their 

 loves, but are apt to fling themselves away on curs of low 

 degree. If reared with a companion of vulgar appearance, 

 there often springs up between the pair a devotion which no 

 time can afterward subdue. The passion, for such it really 

 is, becomes of a more than romantic endurance." Mr. May- 

 hew, who attended chiefly to the smaller breeds, is convinced 

 that the females are strongly attracted by males of a large 



