284 CREATION BY LAW. 



crest of sapphire," but either of these may be much 

 better than no crest at all ; and the different conditions 

 under which the parent form must have existed in 

 different parts of its range, will have determined dif- 

 ferent variations of tint, either of which were ad- 

 vantageous. The reason why female birds are not 

 adorned with equally brilliant plumes is sufficiently 

 clear ; they would be injurious, by rendering their pos- 

 sessors too conspicuous during incubation. Survival 

 of the fittest, has therefore favoured the development 

 of those dark green tints on the upper surface of so 

 many female humming birds, which are most conducive 

 to their protection while the important functions of 

 hatching and rearing the young are being carried on. 

 Keeping in mind the laws of multiplication, variation, 

 and survival of the fittest, which are for ever in action, 

 these varied developments of beauty and harmonious 

 adjustments to conditions, are not only conceivable 

 but demonstrable results. 



The objection I am now combating is solely founded 

 on the supposed analogy of the Creator's mind to 

 ours, as regards the love of Beauty for its own sake ; 

 but if this analogy is to be trusted, then there ought 

 to be no natural objects which are disagreeable or 

 ungraceful in our eyes. And yet it is undoubtedly 

 the fact that there are many such. Just as surely 

 as the Horse and Deer are beautiful and graceful, 

 the Elephant, Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus, and Camel 

 are the reverse. The majority of Monkeys and Apes 

 are not beautiful ; the majority of Birds have no beauty 



