Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- POSTSCRIPT
- PART II SEXUAL SELECTION—continued
- CHAPTER XII SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS OF FISHES, AMPHIBIANS, AND REPTILES
- CHAPTER XIII SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS OF BIRDS
- CHAPTER XIV BIRDS—continued
- CHAPTER XV BIRDS—continued
- CHAPTER XVI BIRDS—concluded
- CHAPTER XVII SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS OF MAMMALS
- CHAPTER XVIII SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS OF MAMMALS—continued
- CHAPTER XIX SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS OF MAN
- CHAPTER XX SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS OF MAN—continued
- CHAPTER XXI GENERAL SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
- INDEX
CHAPTER XVIII - SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS OF MAMMALS—continued
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- POSTSCRIPT
- PART II SEXUAL SELECTION—continued
- CHAPTER XII SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS OF FISHES, AMPHIBIANS, AND REPTILES
- CHAPTER XIII SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS OF BIRDS
- CHAPTER XIV BIRDS—continued
- CHAPTER XV BIRDS—continued
- CHAPTER XVI BIRDS—concluded
- CHAPTER XVII SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS OF MAMMALS
- CHAPTER XVIII SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS OF MAMMALS—continued
- CHAPTER XIX SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS OF MAN
- CHAPTER XX SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS OF MAN—continued
- CHAPTER XXI GENERAL SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
- INDEX
Summary
Quadrupeds use their voices for various purposes, as a signal of danger, as a call from one member of a troop to another, or from the mother to her lost offspring, or from the latter for protection to their mother; but such uses need not here be considered. We are concerned only with the difference between the voices of the two sexes, for instance between that of the lion and lioness, or of the bull and cow. Almost all male animals use their voices much more during the rutting-season than at any other time; and some, as the giraffe and porcupine, are said to be completely mute excepting at this season. As the throats (i.e. the larnyx and thyroid bodies) of stags become periodically enlarged at the commencement of the breedingseason, it might be thought that their powerful voices must be then in some way of high importance to them; but this is very doubtful. From information given to me by two experienced observers, Mr. McNeill and Sir P. Egerton, it seems that young stags under three years old do not roar or bellow; and that the old ones begin bellowing at the commencement of the breedingseason, at first only occasionally and moderately, whilst they restlessly wander about in search of the females. Their battles are prefaced by loud and prolonged bellowing, but during the actual conflict they are silent.
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- Information
- The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex , pp. 274 - 315Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009