Oil. 
«*. XVIII. 
VOCAL ORGANS. 
275 
■ Egerton, it seems tliat young stags under three 
^ e ars old do not roar or bellow ; and that the old ones 
(le gin bellowing at the commencement of the breeding- 
8e ason, at first only occasionally and moderately, whilst 
biey restlessly wander about in search of the females. 
J-heir battles are prefaced by loud and prolonged bel- 
owingj but during the actual conflict they are silent, 
finals of all kinds which habitually use their voices, 
l) tter various noises under any strong emotion, as when 
j^uraged and preparing to fight ; but this may merely 
6 the result of their nervous excitement, which leads 
^ the spasmodic contraction of almost all the muscles of 
body, as when a man grinds his teeth and clenches 
lls hands in rage or agony. ISio doubt stags challenge 
6fl ch other to mortal combat by bellowing; but it is 
n °t likely that this habit could have led through 
b° XUa l selection, that is by the loudest-voiced males 
‘ ;t ving been the most successful in their conflicts, to 
l(i periodical enlargement of the vocal organs ; for the 
^ u gs with the most powerful voices, unless at the same 
l,lle the strongest, best-armed, and most courageous, 
"puld not have gained any advantage over their rivals 
"ith weaker voices. The stags, moreover, which had 
"°aker voices, though not so well able to challenge other 
Sta gs, would have been drawn to the place of combat as 
Cfcl 'tainly as those with stronger voices. 
^ is possible that the roaring of the lion may be 
. , some actual service to him in striking terror into 
t ‘ ls adversary ; for when enraged he likewise erects his 
Qaile and thus instinctively tries to make himself ap- 
as terrible as possible. But it can hard.'y he sup- 
P°sed that the bellowing of the stag, even if it be of 
J y service to him in this way, can have been im- 
jurtant enough to have led to the periodical enlarge- 
Some writers suggest that the 
ll6 0t of the throat. 
t 2 
