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Show :JOS SEXUAL SELEC'l.'ION: MAMMALS. l'AitT JL nrrangeme11t of the hnir on the face and head in several ~:~pecies. It is scarcely conceivable that these crests of hair and the strongly-contrasted coloms of tho fur and sl,in ean be the result of mere variabilit,y without tlte aid of selection; and it is inconceival>le that they Cft.n be of any ordinary use to these animals. If so, they have probably been gained through sexual selection, though transmitted qually, or almost equally, to 1oth oexes. vVith many of the Quach·umana, we have additional evidenee of the action of sexual selection in tho greater size aud strrngth of tho males, and in the greater development of their canine teeth, in comparison with the females. \Vith respect to tho strange manner in which both sexes of some species are coloured, and of the 1eauty or others, a few instances will suffice. The face of the Cercopithecus petat~rista (fig. 75) is black, the whickers and beard being white, with a defined, ronnd, white spot on the nose, covered with short white hair, which gives to tbo animal an almost ludicrous aspect. The Semnopithecus j1·ontatus likewise, has a blackish fttce with a long black beard, and a large naked spot ou the forehead of a bluish-white colour. The face of JJfacact~s lasiotus is dirty flesh-coloured, with a defined rod spot on each cheek. The appearance of Oercocebus mthiops is grotesque, with its black face, white whiskers and collar, chesnut head, and a largo naked white spot over each eyelid. In very many species, tho board, whiskers, and crests of hair round the face are of a different colour from tho rest of the head, and whou different, are always of a lighter tint,H being often pure lJ I observed this fuct in the Zoological Gardens; a1Hl numerous m~cs may bo soon in the coloured platcl:l in Gcofli·oy 't.-Uilnirc nnli 1!'. Cuvior, 'llist. Nut. des Mnmmifhcs,' tom. i. 182-!. ICirAP. XVIII. rQUADRUMANA. 30D white, sometimes bright yellow, or reddish. The whole face of the South American B1•aohyurus calvus is of a "glowing scarlet hue ; " but this colour does not appear F~g. 75. Cercopithecus petaurlst.l (from Brehm). |