Here we have a case of the converse of elimination--a case of genuine selection under nature. But even here the process of elimination also comes into play, for the visitations of flowers by insects involve cross-fertilization. The flowers of two distinct individuals of the same species of plants in this manner fertilize each other; and the act of crossing, as Darwin firmly believed, though it is doubted by some observers nowadays, gives rise to vigorous seedlings, which consequently would have the best chance of flourishing and surviving--would best resist elimination by competition. So that we here have the double process at work; the fairest flowers being selected by insects, and those plants which failed to produce such flowers being eliminated as the relatively unfit. If we turn to the phenomena of what Darwin termed sexual selection, we find both selection and elimination brought into play. By the law of battle, the weaker and less courageous males are eliminated so far as the continuation of their kind is concerned. By the individual choice of the females (on Darwin's view, by no means universally accepted), the finer, bolder, handsomer, and more tuneful wooers are selected. Let us again hear the voice of Darwin himself. "Most male birds," he says, "are highly pugnacious during the breeding season, and some possess weapons especially adapted for fighting with their rivals. But the most pugnacious and the best-armed males rarely or never depend for success solely on their power to drive away or kill their rivals, but have special means for charming the female. With some it is the power of song, or of emitting strange cries, or of producing instrumental music; and the males in consequence differ from the females in their vocal organs or in the structure of certain feathers. From the curiously diversified means for producing various sounds, we gain a high idea of the importance of this means of courtship. Many birds endeavour to charm the females by love-dances or antics, performed on the ground or in the air, and sometimes at prepared places. But ornaments of many kinds, the most brilliant tints, combs and wattles, beautiful plumes, elongated feathers, top-knots, and so forth, are by far the commonest means. In some cases, mere novelty appears to have acted as a charm. The ornaments of the males must be highly important to them, for they have been acquired in not a few cases at the cost of increased danger from enemies, and even at some loss of power in fighting with their rivals[AK].... What, then, are we to conclude from these facts and considerations? Does the male parade his charms with so much pomp and rivalry for no purpose? Are we not justified in believing that the female exerts a choice, and that she receives the addresses of the male who pleases her most?"[AL]