Chap. XXI. NATURAL SELECTION. 215 



weather suits the blotched sorts, whilst it destroys the beau- 

 tiful markings of some other kinds. ^^ During one extremely 

 cold season in Holland all red-flowered hyacinths were 

 observed to be very inferior in quality. It is believed by 

 many agriculturists that red wheat is hardier in northern 

 climates than white wheat.^*' 



With animals, white varieties from being conspicuous are 

 the most liable to be attacked by beasts and birds of prey. 

 In parts of France and Germany where hawks abound, persons 

 are advised not to keep white pigeons ; for, as Parmentier 

 says, " it is certain that in a flock the white always first fall 

 victims to the kite." In Belgium, where so many societies 

 have been established for the flight of carrier-pigeons, white 

 is the one colour which for the same reason is disliked.^^ 

 Prof. G. Jaeger-^ whilst fishing found four pigeons which 

 had been killed by hawks, and all were white ; on another 

 occasion he examined the ejrie of a hawk, and the feathers of 

 the pigeons which had been caught were all of a white or 

 yellow colour. On the other hand, it is said that the sea- 

 eagle {Falco ossifragus, Linn.) on the west coast of Ireland 

 picks out the black fowls, so that " the villagers avoid as 

 much as possible rearing birds of that colour." M. Daudin,'^^ 

 speaking of white rabbits kept in warrens in Kussia, remarks 

 that their colour is a great disadvantage, as they are thus 

 more exposed to attack, and can be seen during bright 

 nights from a distance. A gentleman in Kent, who failed 

 to stock his woods with a nearly white and hardy kind of 

 rabbit, accounted in the same manner for their early dis- 

 appearance. Any one who will watch a white cat prowling 

 after her prey will soon perceive under what a disadvantage 

 she lies. 



The white Tartarian cherry, " owing either to its colour 



" 'Journal of Horticulture,' 1862, Feb. 25, 1865. With respect to black 



pp. 476, 498 ; 1865, p. 460. With fowls, see a quotation in Thompson's 



/espect to the heartsease, 'Gardener's 'Nat. Hist, of Ireland,' 1849, vol. i. 



Chronicle,' 1863, p. 628. p. 22. 



2" * Des Jacinthes, de leur Culture,' ^-' ' In Sachen Darwin's contra 



1768, p. 53 : on wheat, ' Gardener's Wigand,' 1874, p. 70. 



Chronicle,' 1846, p. 653. , " i guH, ^e la See. d'Acclimat.,' 



" W. B. Tegetmeier, 'The Field,' torn, vii., 1860, p. 359. 



