File:The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex (1871) (14760087976).jpg

Identifier: descentofmansele02darw (find matches)
Title: The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex
Year: 1871 (1870s)
Authors: Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882
Subjects: Evolution Natural selection Heredity Human beings -- Origin Evolution
Publisher: London, J. Murray
Contributing Library: MBLWHOI Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MBLWHOI Library

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g-places where tenmales and two females were present. The space wasfrom four to five feet in diameter, and appeared to havebeen cleared of every blade of grass and smoothed asif by human hands. A male was capering to the apparent delight of several others. Now spreading its wings, throwing up its head, or opening its tail like a fan; now strutting about with a ho)3ping gait until tired, when it gabbled some kind of note, and* was relieved by another. ^Thus three of them suc-*• cessively took the field, and then, with self-appro- bation, withdrew to rest. The Indians, in order toobtain their skins, wait at one of the meeting-placestill the birds are eagerly engaged in dancing, and thenare able to kill, with their poisoned arrows, four or five 88 SEXUAL selection: bieds. PartIL males, one after the other.^^ With Birds of Paradisea dozen or more fiill-plumaged males congregate in atree to hold a dancing-party, as it is called by thenatives; and here flying about, raising their \Yiiigs,
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Fig, 50. Kupicola crocea, male (from Brehm). elevating their exqnisite plumes, and making themvibrate, the whole tree seems, as Mr. Wallace re- 82 Journal of E. Geograph, Soc vol. x. 1840, p. 23G. Chap. XIII. DISPLAY BY THE MALE. 89 marks, to be filled with waving plumes. When thusengaged, they become so absorbed that a skilful archermay shoot nearly the whole party. These birds, whenkept in confinement in the Malay Archipelago, are saidto take much care in keeping their feathers clean ; oftenspreading them out, examining them, and removingevery speck of dirt. One observer, who kept severalpairs alive, did not doubt that the display of the malewas intended to please the female.^^ The gold-pheasant (Thaumalealyicta) during his court-ship not only expands and raises his splendid frill, butturns it, as I have myself seen, obliquely toAvards thefemale on whichever side she may be standing, obviouslyin order that a large surface may be displayed beforeher.^* Mr. Bartlett has observed a mal

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