Alabama, 191 5. 35 



"MARRIAGE OF ANIMALS" 



SURPRISING though the statement may seem, it is a fact, 

 borne out by the careful scientists, that practically every 

 form of marriage contract known to men, from free love to 

 the soul-mate theory, can be found in the animal world. 

 Male animals even have their bachelor clubs, and that wonderful 

 naturalist, Ernest Thompson Seton, has related how little societies 

 of animals are established among the deer and antelopes. These 

 societies usually consist of three or four young bucks, which range 

 and feed together in perfect friendship. They are quite happy until 

 some lady deer intrudes. But once a doe joins the herd, good-bye 

 to peace. The brothers fight among themselves while the doe looks 

 on and enjoys the sport until one of them drives off the others and 

 goes away with her. 



There are four distinct forms of marriage among monogamous 

 animals. The first closely resembles the trial marriage, and is the 

 type represented by the moose. The male selects as she pleases him 

 and when she no longer charms he promptly divorces her and finds 

 another mate. 



The second type of animal marriage is that which lasts during 

 the breeding season only. Some animals seek their mates again 

 next season, but among rats, rabbits and squirrels the separation is 

 permanent, although among foxes, coyotes and smaller animals the 

 father, who presumably hates the worries of domestic life, usually 

 stays away until the children have been reared and then returns. 



The third type of animal marriage is that common among wild 

 geese, pigeons and possibly owls. The union lasts through life, and 

 if one of the pair dies the other never seeks a second mate, but 

 mourns disconsolately until death. 



The fourth type of marriags is the nearest approach to the ideal 

 married life, and curiously enough is found most commonly among 

 wolves. Wolves marry for life, and only the death of one leaves 

 the other free to marry again. Furthermore, there is even a genu- 

 ine display of chivalry and affection between such animals. It is 

 recorded that two wolves in the London zoo were very jealous of 

 each other and frequently quarreled. One day during an unusually 

 furious dispute the male approached the female angrily as if to bite 

 her, but just as he reached her stopped, as if held back by some- 

 thing within him. The female then approached timidly, gently 

 licked his face and domestic happiness was once more restored. 



— Wilmington News. 



