Colour, its Nature and Recognition. 31 



extreme of protective vagary, when the species is hard pressed in 

 the struggle for life. 



Nevertheless, though animals have other means of recognition, 

 the distinctive markings are, without doubt, the prime means of 

 knowledge. Who, that has seen a peacock spread his glorious 

 plumes like a radiant glory, can doubt its fascination? Who, that 

 has wandered in America, and watched a male humming-bird 

 pirouetting and descending in graceful spirals, its whole body 

 throbbing with ecstasy of love and jealousy, can doubt? Who can 

 even read of the Australian bower-bird, lowliest and first of virtuosi, 

 decorating his love-bower with shells and flowers, and shining 

 stones, running in and out with evident delight, and re-arranging his 

 treasures, as a collector does his gems, and not be certain that here, 

 at least, we have the keenest appreciation, not only of colour, but of 

 beauty a far higher sense *? 



It has been said that butterflies must be nearly blind, because 

 they seldom fly directly over a wall, but feel their way up with airy 

 touches. Yet every fact of nature contradicts the supposition. 

 Why have plants their tinted flowers, but to entice the insects 

 there ? Why are night-blooming flowers white, or pale yellows and 

 pinks, but to render them conspicuous ? Why are so many flowers 

 striped in the direction of the nectary, but to point the painted way 

 to the honey-treasures below ? The whole scheme of evolution, the 

 whole of the new revelation of the meanings of nature, becomes a dead 

 letter if insects cannot, appreciate the hues of flowers. The bee 

 confines himself as much as possible to one species of flower at a 

 time, and this, too, shows that it must be able to distinguish them 

 with ease. We may, then, take it as proven that the power of 

 discriminating colours is possessed by the lower animals. 



