[106v]

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Birds. Chap. 13

"beyond his dominions." In all common cases the fighting takes place before the birds pair, each male ardently endeavouring to drive away or kill his rivals. Generally the males try with all their power to drive away or kill their rivals before they pair. It does not, however, appear, as far as we can judge, are all the that the females latter actually prefer the victorious males. I have indeed been assured by M. Kowalevsky that the female Capercali will sometimes steals away with a young male who has not dared to enter the arena where with the older cocks; were fighting:in the same manner as is known to occasionally occurs sometimes with the does of the red-deer in Scotland. When two males contend in presence of a single female, the victor, no doubt generally commonly gains his desire; but such some of these battles appear sometimes to be are caused by wandering males trying to distract the peace of an already mated pair.22* It does not seem probable Even with the most pugnacious birds, species that the pairing probably does not probably of each female with the male, depend exclusively on the brutal strength of the latter male; for the males of the most such highly pugnacious species are very often decorated with various ornaments, which generally become more brilliant during the breeding-season which they are sedulously displayed 235(before the females. Their various ornaments often

[The text of this draft corresponds to Descent 2: 49-50.]

[107v]

17

Birds. Chap. 13

become more brilliant and simultaneously their pugnacity increases during the breeding season. They The males also endeavour also to charm or excite the females by love-notes, songs and antics; and the courtship is in many instances is a prolonged affair. Hence it is not probable that the females are indifferent to the charms of the opposite sex, or that they are invariably compelled to yield to the victorious males. It is more probable that the females are excited, either before or after the conflict, by certain males, and thus unconsciously prefer them. In the case of Tetrao umbellus, a good observer23* goes so far as to believe that the fights of the males "are all a sham, performed to show themselves to the greatest advantage before the admiring females who assemble around; for I have never been able to find a maimed hero, and seldom more than a broken feather." I shall have to recur to this subject, but I may here add that with the Tetrao cupido of the United States, about a score of males assemble at a particular spot, and strutting about, make the whole air resound with their extraordinary noises. At the first answer

[The text of this draft corresponds to Descent 2: 50.]

[108v]

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Birds. Chap. 13

at each other, sometimes with a fatal result; and they likewise thus also they drive away various other enemies.17*

The breeding period is that which during which the law of battle prevails; but the males of some birds, as game-fowls and Ruffs, and even the young males of the wild turkey and grouse,18*(1) are ready to fight whenever they meet. The presence of the female is the teterrima belli causa. The Bengali baboos make the pretty little males of the amadavats (Estrelda amandava) fight together and lay wagers on the success result of these pretty little finches: by placing three small cages are placed in a row, with a female in the middle; after a little time the two cock birds males are turned loose, and immediately a desperate battle ensues.19*(2) When many males congregate at the same appointed spot & fight together, as in the case of grouse and various other birds, they are generally attended by the females,20*(3) which afterwards pair with the victorious combatants. The pairing precede instead of succeeding to combat: thus according to but according to that excellent observer Audubon,21*(4) several males of the Virginian goat-sucker (Caprimulgus Virginianus) "court in a highly entertaining manner, the same female, and no sooner has she made her choice, than her approved gives chase to all intruders, and drives them

[The text of this draft corresponds to Descent 2: 48-9.]

[109v]

Chap. 12 Fishes

Fishes.─ We have now arrived at the great sub-kingdom of the Vertebrata, and will commence with the lowest class, namely Fishes. The males of Plagiostomous fishes (sharks, Rays, Rays) and of Chimæroid fishes are provided with claspers which serve to retain the female, like the various structures possessed by so many male articulata; of the lower animals; but as these claspers are to closely connected in function with the primary reproductive organs, they need not here be further noticed. (a) (text)

Little is known about their courtship of fishes owing to the element which fishes inhabited, and not much about their battles. The male stickle-back (Gasterosteus leiurus) has been described as "mad with delight" when the female comes out of her hiding-place and surveys the nest which he has made for her. "He darteds round her in every direction, then to his accumulated work materials for the nest, then back again in an instant; and as she did does not advance he endeavours to push her with his snout, and then tries to pull her by the tail and side-spine to the nest."*(1) 2 The males are said to be polygamists;3*(2) and they are extraordinarily bold and pugnacious, whilst "the females are quite pacific." Their battles of the stickle-back are at times desperate; "for these puny combatants fasten tight on each other for several

[The text of this draft corresponds to Descent 2: 1-2.]