192 THE EVOLUTIONIST AT LARGE 



them a harem ; and as beauty and strength 

 usually go hand in hand, they will also be 

 the conquerors in those battles which are 

 universal with all polygamists in the animal 

 world. Thus we account for the striking 

 and conspicuous difference between the pea- 

 cock and the peahen, or between the two 

 sexes in the pheasant, the turkey, and the- 

 domestic fowl. 



On the other hand, the second class con- 

 sists of those birds which are exposed to the 

 hostility of many wild animals, and more 

 especially of man. These kinds, typified by 

 the red grouse, partridges, quails, and guinea- 

 fowls, are generally dingy in hue, with a ten- 

 dency to pepper-and-salt in their plumage ; 

 and they usually display very little difference 

 between the sexes, both cocks and hens 

 being coloured and feathered much alike. 

 In short, they are protectively designed, 

 while the first class are attractive. Their 

 plumage resembles as nearly as possible the 

 ground on which they sit or the covert in 



