Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 17.djvu/679

Rh have been carried out to a very great extent. But all such divergent fancies must themselves tend to become distinctly fixed for purposes of specific identification; and we find as a matter of fact that each species does readily recognize its mates, even when the differences between closely allied species are only very slight.

Now, this special hereditary liking for a particular form and type will not interfere with the general love for color, brilliancy, sweet tones, and perfumes. Accordingly, wherever the circumstances which give rise to a taste for these sense-stimulants exist, it would naturally follow that the taste would help to determine the choice of mates. But, again, as Mr. Wallace has fully shown, the most vigorous individuals would usually possess the most highly developed ornaments, the brightest colors, the largest scent-glands, and the loudest or most musical voices. Hence the very animals most likely to be sexually selected are also, on the average, those most likely to be naturally selected. Yet sexual selection really differs from natural selection, in that it gives a special direction to the ornamentation. For example, one can hardly believe that mere masculine vigor will account for the gorgeous and positively inconvenient plumage of the bird-of-paradise, nor for the exquisite coloring of the peacock, nor for the extremely ungainly air-bladders of many insects. It is quite easy to conceive that the general vigor implied by the possession of these extended ornamental adjuncts may have helped their possessors in the general struggle for life; but it is hardly possible to believe that they could have reached their present definite development without the aid of sexual selection. In short, where an ornament, or what seemed to any particular individual an ornament, proved hurtful to the race, it would be eliminated by natural selection; but where it proved neutral it would be spared, and if it coincided with advantageous qualities it would be further developed. Yet, even if only neutral, sexual selection alone would give it an extra chance, and, as it would doubtless be correlated on the one hand with certain special tastes and habits, and on the other hand with certain slight modifications of structure, it would doubtless succeed on an average of cases in producing a new species.

The familiar facts of human beauty will probably serve to make this reconciliation of the conflicting views a little clearer. Man of course admires in the abstract bright colors, brilliancy, musical notes, graceful curves, and symmetrical form. But, as applied to the human face and figure, he admires these in certain special and typical arrangements. Thus, while our general love for color leads us to prize golden hair, we do not like a sallow complexion; while it leads us to see beauty in rosy cheeks and red lips, which are signs of a healthy circulation, we do not admire the same redness in the nose, where it is usually a result of dyspepsia or dissipated habits, either of which is bad for the race at large. Again, though we admire pearly teeth, clear eyes, and a white skin, all of which are obviously the external