Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-01-23
couRTsHIP AMONG ANIMALS.
Tho Various Degrees Of conjugaI Con-
staney Which Dumb Creatures Show.


Surprising though the statement may
seem, it is a fact, borne out by the
careful study Of scientists, that prac-
tically every form Of marriage con-
tract known to men can be found In
the animal world. Male animals even
have their bachelor clubs, and that
wonderful naturalist, Ernest Thomp-
son Seton, has related how little So
cieties of animals are established
among deer and antelopes. These So
cieties usually consist of three or four
young bucks, who range and feed to-
gether in perfect friendship. They
are quite happy. and never quarrel or
fight until some lady intrudes. But
once doe joins the herd, goodbye to
peace. The brothers fight among them
selves while the doe looks on and en-
Joys the sport, until one of them drives
off the others and goes away with her.
There are four distinct forms Of mar
riage among homogeneous animals. The
first closely resembles the trial mar
riage. and is the type represented by
the moose. The male selects a mate
and is faithful to her SO long as she
pleases him, and when she no longer
charms. he promptly divorces her and
finds another mate.
The second type of animal marriage
Is that which lasts during the breeding
season only. Some animals seek their
mates again next season, but among
rats, rabbits and squirrels the separa-
ton is permanent, although among
foxes, coyotes and smaller animals, the
fa hny- rhn hi l.
ries of domestic life, usually stays
away until the children have been
reared, and then returns.
the third type of animal marriage
is that common among wild geese,
pigeons and, possibly. owls. The union
lasts through life, and If one of the
pair dies the other never seeks a Sec
ond mate, but mourns disconsolately
until death.
Tho fourth type of marriage Is the
nearest approach to the ideal married
life, and, curiously enough, Is found
mcst commonly among wolves.
Wolves marry for life, and only the
death of one leaves the other free to
marry again. Furthermore, there is
even a genuine display of chivalry and
recorded that two wolves in the Lon
don Zoo were very jealous of each
other and frequently quarrelled. One
day, during an unusually furious dis
pute. the male approached the female
angri!y as ii to bite her. but just as he
reached her he stopped as if held back
by something within him. The female
then approached tinidly. gently licked
his face, and domestic happiness was
once more restored.
Marriage. 1t appears, is almost uni
versal in the animal world Bachel-
ors and spinsters are very rare, Yet
after the brief period of mourning is
over, the bereayed animal has little
difficulty in finding a new mate.
Perhaps the most interesting point
In regard to this subject is that ami
mails, like men. often have proved that
monogamy is the ideal married state.
A polygamous race increases faster for
a time, and produces offspring of, ap-
parently, unusual intelligence and de-
veioprnent, but 1t is a notable fact that
deer, which are most polygamous, are
lowest down IN the scale of develop
ment and are most seriously scourged
by epidemic plaques. The great OBJ
lection to polygamy in animals is
that mlyoEe parent--tiie wea ker-has
the care Of the Offspring, and that a,
the death of the father serious trouble
often occurs among the survivors,
Tit Bits.