  Here we test the idea that new globular clusters (GCs) are formed in the same
gaseous ("wet") mergers or interactions that give rise to the young stellar
populations seen in the central regions of many early-type galaxies. We compare
mean GC colors with the age of the central galaxy starburst. The red GC
subpopulation reveals remarkably constant mean colors independent of galaxy
age. A scenario in which the red GC subpopulation is a combination of old and
new GCs (formed in the same event as the central galaxy starburst) can not be
ruled out; although this would require an age-metallicity relation for the
newly formed GCs that is steeper than the Galactic relation. However, the data
are also well described by a scenario in which most red GCs are old, and few,
if any, are formed in recent gaseous mergers. This is consistent with the old
ages inferred from some spectroscopic studies of GCs in external systems. The
event that induced the central galaxy starburst may have therefore involved
insufficient gas mass for significant GC formation. We term such gas-poor
events "damp" mergers.
