The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, Vol. II (1st Edition)Darwin, Charles
Science
The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, Vol. II (1st Edition)
Darwin, Charles
Evolution (Biology); Human beings -- Origin; Sex differences; Sexual dimorphism (Animals); Sexual selection in animals
There are other and much more remarkable differences between the sexes
of certain lizards. The male of _Ceratophora aspera_ bears on the
extremity of his snout an appendage half as long as the head. It is
cylindrical, covered with scales, flexible, and apparently capable of
erection: in the female it is quite rudimental. In a second species of
the same genus a terminal scale forms a minute horn on the summit of the
flexible appendage; and in a third species (_C. Stoddartii_, fig. 34)
the whole appendage is converted into a horn, which is usually of a
white colour, but assumes a purplish tint when the animal is excited. In
the adult male of this latter species the horn is half an inch in
length, but is of quite minute size in the female and in the young.
These appendages, as Dr. Günther has remarked to me, may be compared
with the combs of gallinaceous birds, and apparently serve as ornaments.
[Illustration: Fig. 34. Ceratophora Stoddartii. Upper figure, male;
lower figure, female.]
[Illustration: Fig. 35. Chamæleon bifurcus. Upper figure, male; lower
figure, female.]
In the genus Chamæleon we come to the climax of difference between the
sexes. The upper part of the skull of the male _C. bifurcus_ (fig. 35),
an inhabitant of Madagascar, is produced into two great, solid, bony
projections, covered with scales like the rest of the head; and of this
wonderful modification of structure the female exhibits only a rudiment.
Again, in _Chamæleon Owenii_ (fig. 36), from the West Coast of Africa,
the male bears on his snout and forehead three curious horns, of which
the female has not a trace. These horns consist of an excrescence of
bone covered with a smooth sheath, forming part of the general
integuments of the body, so that they are identical in structure with
those of a bull, goat, or other sheath-horned ruminant. Although the
three horns differ so much in appearance from the two great
prolongations of the skull in _C. bifurcus_, we can hardly doubt that
they serve the same general purpose in the economy of these two animals.
The first conjecture which will occur to every one is that they are
used by the males for fighting together; but Dr. Günther, to whom I am
indebted for the foregoing details, does not believe that such peaceable
creatures would ever become pugnacious. Hence we are driven to infer
that these almost monstrous deviations of structure serve as masculine
ornaments.
[Illustration: Fig. 36. Chamæleon Owenii. Upper figure, male; lower
figure, female.]
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