8 EGGS AND EGG-COLLECTING. 



means of security attend their eggs and downy young, 

 even the extreme simplicity of their nests aiding the escape 

 of detection. Birds whose down has protected them 

 during the early part of their history, become aware of 

 the dangers which threaten a more conspicuous plumage, 

 which is a marvellous thing, whether acquired by reasoning 

 or instinct. This is proved by the action of birds of the 

 same order. The Golden Plover, with plumage in harmony 

 with the surroundings of her nest (her feathers being still 

 further subdued in colour during the breeding season), sits 

 much closer than the Green Plover, although a shyer bird, 

 with eggs possessing the same protective qualities. The 

 Green Plover knows her plumage is much more conspicuous 

 than her eggs, and quietly slips away before danger ap- 

 proaches half so near as the golden plover will allow it. 



I am surprised to find so great an authority as Darwin 

 assert that " the species which represent each other in 

 distinct countries will almost always have been exposed to 

 different conditions, but we can hardly attribute to this 

 action the modification of the plumage in the males alone, 

 seeing that the females and the young, though similarly 

 exposed, have not been affected. " 



Possibly such may be the case where no protective 

 modification is necessary in the female or young ; but what 

 about the fact that female Bed Grouse differ much in the 

 colour of their plumage, according to the conditions under 

 which they live, though the males are left totally unaffected ? 

 Instance the female Grouse, known as the "Moss-hen," 

 always found on the highest and most exposed situations 

 where there is little cover, consequently great need of har- 

 monising colours : a strong point, I venture to assert, in 

 favour of protective utility. 



