50 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE CHAP. 
COLOUR 
The colours of animals, generally, I believe, 
serve as a protection. In some, however, 
they probably render them more attractive to 
their mates, of which the Peacock is one of 
the most remarkable illustrations. 
In richness of colour birds and insects vie 
even with flowers. “One fine red admiral 
butterfly,” says Jefferies,’ ““ whose broad wings, 
stretched out like fans, looked simply splendid 
floatmmg round and round the willows which 
marked the margin of a dry pool. His blue 
markings were really blue—blue velvet — his 
red and the white stroke shone as if sunbeams 
were in his wings. I wish there were more 
of these butterflies; in summer, dry summer, 
when the flowers seem gone and the grass is 
not so dear to us, and the leaves are dull with 
heat, a little colour is so pleasant. To me 
colour is a sort of food; every spot of colour 
is a drop of wine to the spirit.” 
The varied colours which add so much to 
1 The Open Air. 
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