[83] These facts are taken from Mr. J. Lewis Bonhote's British Birds. I may add that in many species where the sexes are alike the young are quite different from the parents, a fact which seems to have escaped the notice of those who say that the young birds resemble the female. A very curious instance is furnished by the greater spotted woodpecker, where the sexes are similar, but the female lacks the red crown of the male; and yet the young of both sexes have this red crown.
[84] This seems to be the position taken by Professor Geddes and J.A. Thomson in Evolution of Sex, pp. 4-5.
[85] Several examples are mentioned by Wallace, Darwinism, p. 281. He, however, brings them forward in quite a different connection to prove his theory of the protective duller colours of the female birds.
[86] My facts of the phalaropes are taken from J. Lewis Bonhote's British Birds, pp. 314-315.
[87] Pure Sociology, p. 331.
[88] Epinas, Soc. animales, p. 422.
[89] Audubon, Scènes de la Nature, t. Ier, p. 29. I may say, that at the time of writing this, while staying in the country, I have had an opportunity of watching these bands of female turkeys with their young. Their fear at the approach of the strutting noisy male is very manifest. On such occasions they at once seek shelter. I once saw them fly into a church. The females invariably keep together. I have never seen a single mother with her young.
[90] Letourneau, Evolution of Marriage, chapter on the "Family among Animals," pp. 29-34, from which these cases are taken.
[91] Epinas, Soc. animales, p. 443. In this connection I may mention the fact that in Southern Spain, where the women are noted for their love of their children, I have often seen mothers sitting at their doors for several hours, extracting lice from the heads and bodies of their children. I once saw a beautiful flamenca (Sevillian gipsy) performing this task for her lover.
[92] Letourneau, Evolution of Marriage, p. 32.