CONTENTS OF CHAPTER V COURTSHIP, MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY I.-Among the Birds and Mammals Courtship and marriage among birds and mammals-Every form of association similar to human marriage—A high standard of lovemorality among birds-Monogamy, polygamy, and polyandryCases of absolute profligate promiscuity-Suggestions of all the sexual sins of humanity-The phenomena of courtship-The law of battle-Battles of mammals and male gallinacea-The frenzy of love-Where supremacy in love is gained by force the males become stronger and better armed than the females-Importance of this Gentler ways of wooing-Esthetic seductions-Courteous duels-The note of joy in love among birds-Affectionate partnerships lasting for life-Frequency of monogamy among birds-Cooperation of both sexes in forming the home and caring for the young-The amatory dances of birds-Significance of dancingNumerous illustrations-The use of song and decorative plumage— Musical seduction-Esthetic constructions-The extraordinary power of sex-hunger-General propositions. II. Further Examples of Courtship, Marriage and the Family among Birds Darwin's theory of sexual-selection-Objections to this by Wallace and others-An explanation-The true object of courtship-The sexual passion the origin of social growth-A rough outline of society already established in the animal kingdom-The maternal and the paternal family-The former the most frequent-The importance of the female-Difference between the secondary sexual characters of the male and the female-Doubt of the accepted view-Need for a further examination-Cases among birds in which the female equals or even exceeds the male in size and strengthBeauty tests of brilliant plumage-Numerous examples of almost identical likeness between the sexes-This similarity in plumage occurs in some of the most brilliant of our birds-The interesting case of the phalaropes where the rôle of the sexes is reversedThese facts point to an error in the accepted opinion as to the secondary sexual characters-Sexual adornments cannot be regarded as a necessary and exclusive adjunct of the male-Prof. Lester Ward's Gynæocratic theory-Male efflorescence-Among the species in which male differentiation has gone farthest the males are bad fathers-Examples to prove this-The fathers devoid of affection belong to the less intelligent species-The conclusion— An extravagant growth of the secondary sexual characters not favourable to the highest development of the species-The most oppressed females the most faithful wives-The highest development in the beautiful cases in which the sexes are more alike, equal in capacity and co-operate together in the race-work-Individual fancies of females-The case of a female wild duck-Desire for sexual variety-Conjugal fidelity modified by the conditions of life-Civilisation depraves birds-General observations-Love the great creative force. CHAPTER V COURTSHIP, MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY I.-Among the Birds and Mammals "The principle of divergence of character' pervades all nature, from the lowest groups to the highest, as may be well seen in the class of birds."-Wallace. A GREAT step in advance is taken when we come to study the courtship and sexual relationships of birds and mammals. There are many examples, in particular among birds, of a beautiful and high standard of lovemorality. To the physical fondness of the sexes for one another there is now added a wealth of what must be recognised as psychical attraction, which finds its expression in many diverse ways. We shall find all forms of sexual association, very similar to marriage in the human species. There are temporary unions formed for the purpose of procreation, after which the partners separate and cease to care for one another. Polygamy is frequent, polyandry also occurs, and there are many cases of absolute profligate promiscuity. We shall, indeed, find the suggestion of all the sexual sins of humanity, every form of coquetry, of love-battles, jealousy and the like. There are as well many examples of monogamic unions lasting for the lives of the partners. This is especially the case with birds. Among the higher mammals polygamy is most common, but permanent unions are formed, especially among the anthropoid apes. Thus strictly mono gamous marriages are frequent among gorillas and orang-utans, the young sometimes remaining with their parents to the age of six years, while any approach to loose behaviour on the part of the wife is severely punished by the husband.' We find both the matriarchate and patriarchate family; and we may observe the greatest difference in the conduct of the parents in their care of offspring. Even a rapid examination of these customs is worth while, for they cast forward many suggestions on our sexual, domestic, and social relationships. Let us take first the phenomena of courtship. It is possible to give only the briefest outline of this fascinating subject. We will begin with the law-ofbattle. Courtship without combat is rare among mammals; it is also common in many species of birds. Special offensive and defensive weapons for use in these love-fights are found; such are the larger canine teeth of many male mammals, the antlers of stags, the tusks of elephants, the horns of antelopes, goats, oxen and other animals, while among birds the spurs of the cock and allied species are examples of sexual weapons." The season of love is the season of battle," says Darwin. "To those who understand love there will be no cause of surprise in these procreative explosions. There can be no doubt that such combats are a stimulus to mutual sexual excitement in the males who take part in them and the female who watches them. Throughout Nature love only reaches its goal after tremendous 1 Havelock Ellis, Psychology of Sex, Vol. VI. p. 422. expenditure of energy. Courtship is the prelude to love. The question is what form it shall take? It is this that even yet we have not decided. But the importance of courtship cannot be overlooked. We must regard it as the servant of the Life-force. In the fine saying of Professor Lloyd Morgan,' "the purpose of courtship reveals itself as the strong and steady bending of the bow, that the arrow may find its mark in a biological end of the highest importance in the survival of a healthy and vigorous race." Even the most timid animals will fight desperately under the stimulus of sex-passion. Hares and moles battle to the death in some cases; squirrels and beavers wound each other severely. Seals grapple with tooth and claw; bulls, deer and stallions have violent encounters, and goats use their curved horns with deadly effect. The elephant, pacific by nature, assumes a terrible fury in the rutting season. Thus, the Sanskrit poems frequently use the simile of the elephant goaded by love to express the highest degree of strength, nobility, grandeur and even beauty. It is hardly necessary to point out that in these love-conflicts we may find the sources of our own brute passions of jealousy, and the origin of duels, murders and all the violent crimes committed by men under the excitement of sexual emotion -the tares among the wheat of love that drive men mad and wild. 3 1 Animal Behaviour, p. 265, quoted by Havelock Ellis, Psychology of Sex, Vol. III. p. 28. 2 Geoffrey Mortimer (W. M. Gallichan), Chapters on Human Love, PP. 17-18. 3 Letourneau, Evolution of Marriage, p. 16. |