Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-25

something within him. The female
then approached timidly. gently licked
his face and domestic happiness was
once more restored.
Wolves have been known to show
respect for other females than their
mates simply on account of their
sex. apparently.
The fourth type of animal marriage
is that common among wild geese,
pigeons, parrots and possibly owls.
The union lasts through life. and when
one of the pair dies the other never
seeks second mate. but mourns dis
consolately until death This is
marked exception to the unusual short
period of animal mourning.
Many animals that were formerls-
homogeneous have become polyga-
nous through demestlcation. 1t has
been discovered that only polygamous
animals can be successfully domesti-
Gated Many attempts have been
made to domesticate zebras and other
homogeneous animals. but they have
never been successful. Deer are nat
urally polygamous and form the one
great exception to the rule of animal
marriage
1t is suggested by some that the
looseness of morals n the part of our
domestic animals is due to the effects
of their association with man. The
dog. now polygamous. was formerly
a monogamist. So also was the pig.
the most polygamous of all domestic
| animals All domestic fowls ara
polygamous. The geese. which in the
wild state are removed from polyg
amy. have become as poiygamous az
the other fowl on DEMONSTRATION. Tha
story of the fall from grace of one of
these virtuous birds makes an inter
esting bit of farmyard gossip.
In certain farmyard, so runs the
tale lived a handsome pin head drake
with his beautiful and accomplished
wife. He was most beautiful fellow.
| was this drake, clothed in the finest
of white duck suits. But he was a
strict monogamst. In the same
! farmyard was handsome young
duck, recently married to staid.
plodding old drake, but a good fellow
| in his way.
| In the course of time this pretty
young duck fell in love with the hand
| some drake. and began to cast adoring
glances at him. He virtuous fellow.
| paid no attention but continued his
| domestic duties Finally the pretty
! young duck became too insistent and
| he yielded. Leaving his patient wife
he dashed at the unsuspecting spouse
of his tempter. gave the old fellow
| the thra shing of his life, and. with
his bride, departed that farmyard to
| te
recorded. but doubtless the two Tilted
spouses found consolation in each
others presence.
The homing instinct among animals
| Is very strong. Mother love is win
| animals as with human beings, the
most enduring passion of the race. "a
mother animal will protect her little
ones with her life and will grieve for
them sincerely if they are taken away.
Marriage is almost anniversary In the
animal world. Bachelors and spin
sters are very rare. Yet. after the
brief period of mourning is over.
bereaved animal has little difficulty in
finding q mate.
The animals have, through ages Of
experience reached certain conc1u-
! sions regarding the marriage state.
that are interesting because they cor
| respond so closely to human marriage
laws. Animals have proved in the
same way man has proved that mon
ogamy is the ideal marriage state. "A
j polygamous race increases faster FOR
a time and produces offspring OF APP
parently unusual intelligence and de-
| velopment. but it is notable face
that the deer. which are must polyga-
nous, are lowest down in the scale
of development and are most seriously
scourged by epidemic plaques. The
great objection of animals to polyg-
amy is that only one parent. the
weaker, has the care of the offspring
and that at the death of the father,
serious trouble and frequently inter-
necince war occurs among the sur
vivors.
Through the animal world careful
investigation shows that the nearer
the animals have approached the ideal
form of marriage the higher they have
reached in the scale of development
and the better and more enduring g
their offspring.-New York American.