. The study of animal life . te likely that Darwins view is true insome cases (^ these spiders), and Wallaces conclusion true inothers i^ birds and butterflies), or that both may be true in I02 Tlie Study of Animal Life PART I many cases ; while the fact that the males of these spiders arealways more brilliant than their mates suggests again that thebrilliancy is wrapped up along with the mystery of maleness, whichit is not sufficient to define merely as superabundant vitality, or asgreater activity, but rather as a tendency towards a relative increaseof destructive or disruptive vital
. The study of animal life . te likely that Darwins view is true insome cases (^ these spiders), and Wallaces conclusion true inothers i^ birds and butterflies), or that both may be true in I02 Tlie Study of Animal Life PART I many cases ; while the fact that the males of these spiders arealways more brilliant than their mates suggests again that thebrilliancy is wrapped up along with the mystery of maleness, whichit is not sufficient to define merely as superabundant vitality, or asgreater activity, but rather as a tendency towards a relative increaseof destructive or disruptive vital changes over those which areconstructive or conservative. But the problem is very complex,and dogmatic conclusions are premature. We need to knowthe chemical nature and history of the pigments to which thecolour is due ; we need to have an approximate balance-sheetof the income and expenditure of the two sexes. Enough of this,however ; let us return to the pictures. We talk about romance—listen to these patient observers:. Fig. 22.—Two male spiders {Hairocesiuin splcndens to the left, and Astiajtttata to the right) displaying themselves before their mates. (AfterG. W. and E. G. Peckham.) On reaching the countiy we found that the males of Saitispulex were mature and were waiting for the females, as is the waywith both spiders and insects. In this species there is but littledifference between the sexes. On May 24th we found a maturefemale and placed her in one of the larger boxes, and the next daywe put a male in with her. He saw her as she stood perfectlystill, twelve inches away. The glance seemed to excite him, andhe at once moved toward her. When some four inches from herhe stood still, and then began the most remarkable performancesthat an amorous male could offer to an admiring female. She eyedhim eagerly, changing her position from time to time, so that hemight always be in view. He, raising his whole body on one sideby straightening out the legs, and lowering it on t
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