The Descent of Man

their vocal organs as a means of courtship; and
some species likewise perform what may be
called instrumental music.
In the class of Mammals, with which we are
here more particularly concerned, the males of
almost all the species use their voices during
the breeding-season much more than at any
other time; and some are absolutely mute excepting
at this season. With other species both
sexes, or only the females, use their voices as a
love-call. Considering these facts, and that the
vocal organs of some quadrupeds are much
more largely developed in the male than in the
female, either permanently or temporarily during
the breeding-season; and considering that
in most of the lower classes the sounds produced
by the males, serve not only to call but to
excite or allure the female, it is a surprising fact
that we have not as yet any good evidence that
these organs are used by male mammals to
charm the females. The American Mycetes ca-