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Let us for our present purpose leave on one side and regard as sub judice the question whether the specific details of secondary sexual characters are the outcome of female choice。 For us the question is whether certain psychological accompaniments of the pairing situation have influenced the course of evolution and whether these psychological accompaniments are themselves the outcome of evolution。 As a matter of observation； specially differentiated modes of behaviour； often very elaborate； frequently requiring highly developed skill； and apparently highly charged with emotional tone； are the precursors of pairing。 They are generally confined to the males； whose fierce combats during the period of sexual activity are part of the emotional manifestation。 It is inconceivable that they have no biological meaning； and it is difficult to conceive that they have any other biological end than to evoke in the generally more passive female the pairing impulse。 They are based on instinctive foundations ingrained in the nervous constitution through natural （or may we not say sexual？） selection in virtue of their profound utility。 They are called into play by a specialised presentation such as the sight or the scent of the female at； or a little in advance of； a critical period of the physiological rhythm。 There is no necessity that the male should have any knowledge of the end to which his strenuous activity leads up。 In presence of the female there is an elaborate application of all the energies of behaviour； just because ages of racial preparation have made him biologically and emotionally what he isa functionally sexual male that must dance or sing or go through hereditary movements of display； when the appropriate stimulation comes。 Of course after the first successful courtship his future behaviour will be in some degree modified by his previous experience。 No doubt during his first courtship he is gaining the primary data of a peculiarly rich experience； instinctive and emotional。 But the biological foundations of the behaviour of courtship are laid in the hereditary coordinations。 It would seem that in some cases； not indeed in all； but perhaps especially in those cases in which secondary sexual behaviour is most highly evolved；correlative with the ardour of the male is a certain amount of reluctance in the female。 The pairing act on her part only takes place after prolonged stimulation； for affording which the behaviour of male courtship is the requisite presentation。 The most vigorous； defiant and mettlesome male is preferred just because he alone affords a contributory stimulation adequate to evoke the pairing impulse with its attendant emotional tone。
It is true that this places female preference or choice on a much lower psychological plane than Darwin in some passages seems to contemplate where； for example； he says that the female appreciates the display of the male and places to her credit a taste for the beautiful。 But Darwin himself distinctly states （〃Descent of Man〃 （2nd edition）； Vol。 II。 pages 136； 137； （Popular edition）； pages 642； 643。） that 〃it is not probable that she consciously deliberates； but she is most excited or attracted by the most beautiful； or melodious； or gallant males。〃 The view here put forward； which has been developed by Prof。 Groos （〃The Play of Animals〃； page 244； London； 1898。）； therefore seems to have Darwin's own sanction。 The phenomena are not only biological； there are psychological elements as well。 One can hardly suppose that the female is unconscious of the male's presence； the final yielding must surely be accompanied by heightened emotional tone。 Whether we call it choice or not is merely a matter of definition of terms。 The behaviour is in part determined by supplementary psychological values。 Prof。 Groos regards the coyness of females as 〃a most efficient means of preventing the too early and too frequent yielding to the sexual impulse。〃 （Ibid。 page 283。） Be that as it may； it is； in any case； if we grant the facts； a means through which male sexual behaviour with all its biological and psychological implications； is raised to a level otherwise perhaps unattainable by natural means； while in the female it affords opportunities for the development in the individual and evolution in the race of what we may follow Darwin in calling appreciation； if we empty this word of the aesthetic implications which have gathered round it in the mental life of man。
Regarded from this standpoint sexual selection； broadly considered； has probably been of great importance。 The psychological accompaniments of the pairing situation have profoundly influenced the course of biological evolution and are themselves the outcome of that evolution。
Darwin makes only passing reference to those modes of behaviour in animals which go by the name of play。 〃Nothing；〃 he says （〃Descent of Man〃； Vol。 II。 page 60； （Popular edition）； page 566。）； 〃is more common than for animals to take pleasure in practising whatever instinct they follow at other times for some real good。〃 This is one of the very numerous cases in which a hint of the master has served to stimulate research in his disciples。 It was left to Prof。 Groos to develop this subject on evolutionary lines and to elaborate in a masterly manner Darwin's suggestion。 〃The utility of play；〃 he says （〃The Play of Animals〃； page 76。）； 〃is incalculable。 This utility consists in the practice and exercise it affords for some of the more important duties of life；〃that is to say； for the performance of activities which will in adult life be essential to survival。 He urges （Ibid。 page 75。） that 〃the play of young animals has its origin in the fact that certain very important instincts appear at a time when the animal does not seriously need them。〃 It is； however； questionable whether any instincts appear at a time when they are not needed。 And it is questionable whether the instinctive and emotional attitude of the play…fight； to take one example； can be identified with those which accompany fighting in earnest； though no doubt they are closely related and have some common factors。 It is probable that play； as preparatory behaviour； differs in biological detail （as it almost certainly does in emotional attributes） from the earnest of after…life and that it has been evolved through differentiation and integration of the primary tissue of experience； as a preparation through which certain essential modes of skill may be acquiredthose animals in which the preparatory play…propensity was not inherited in due force and requisite amount being subsequently eliminated in the struggle for existence。 In any case there is little question that Prof。 Groos is right in basing the play…propensity on instinctive foundations。 （〃The Play of Animals〃 page 24。） None the less； as he contends； the essential biological value of play is that it is a means of training the educable nerve…tissue； of developing that part of the brain which is modified by experience and which thus acquires new characters； of elaborating the secondary tissue of experience on the predetermined lines of instinctive differentiation and thus furthering the psychological activities w