28 THE CJTOrvY OF BIRD-LIFE. 



which these have given rise. What is exactly the 

 meaning and interpretation thereof we do not 

 as yet know ; we feel, as yet, in the twilight. 

 Certain rules or laws have been formulated 

 which are generally admitted as satisfactory, and 

 possibly the true explanation. But an analysis 

 of these is outside the scope of the present work. 

 We will sample the fruits resulting from the 

 patient and laborious research of students of all 

 nations in this field, foremost amongst whom 

 stands our own countryman Charles Darwin. 



Briefly then it is, I take it, a matter of common 

 knowledge that when the colouration of the sexes 

 of any given species differs the male birds are 

 more brilliantly coloured than the females. The 

 reason for this, we are told, is that if the female 

 were as conspicuously coloured as the male she 

 would be easily discoverable when sitting on her 

 eggs by prowling enemies ; a more sombre dress 

 enhances the safety of both mother and offspring 

 — a very important consideration if the species 

 is to hold its own in the struggle for existence. 

 Now, we have some really weighty evidence in 

 favour of the truth of these interpretations, 

 since it sometimes happens that the case is 

 exactly reversed, and the female dons the gayer 

 dress. Whenever this occurs it always happens 

 that it is the male which undertakes the in- 

 cubation of the eggs. The little j^halarope, 

 one of our British birds, affords us a case in 

 point, as also do the little three-toed bustard 

 quails of India, Africa, and Australia, and the 

 painted snipes of India, Africa, Australia, and 

 S. America. Darwin's explanation of why the 



