308 THE COLOUES OF AMIMALS 



fore follow, as Mr. Wallace argues, that * the effect of 

 female preference will be neutralised by Natural Selec- 

 tion.' It must be remembered that such preferences 

 can only decide between males which have already 

 successfully run the gauntlet of by far the greatest 

 dangers which beset the higher animals, the dangers of 

 youth. Natural Selection has already pronounced a 

 satisfactory verdict upon the vast majority of animals 

 which have reached maturity. The male which has 

 only just passed this test, and is nevertheless accepted 

 because of some superior attraction, will soon succumb 

 and will leave far less offspring than one of equal 

 or perhaps inferior attractions, which is fitted to live 

 for the natural term of its life. Furthermore, the 

 offspring of the former will stand a greater chance of 

 failure than those of the latter. Natural Selection is a 

 qualifying examination which must be passed by all 

 candidates for honours : Sexual Selection is an honours 

 examination, in which many who have passed the pre- 

 vious examination will be rejected. But the conditions 

 for qualifying are more rigid than in any existing 

 system ; for the candidates who have barely qualified, 

 or have qualified by some piece of luck, or have failed 

 to keep up to the necessary standard in after life, 

 will in the end be excluded from the advantages of any 

 honours they may have gained. 



Mr. Wallace states that * the action of Natural 

 Selection does not indeed disprove the existence 

 of female selection of ornament as ornament, but 



