DARWINISM CHAP. 



3. There are indications of a progressive change of colour, 

 perhaps in some definite order, accompanying the develo})ment 

 of tissues or appendages. Thus si)ots spread and fuse into 

 bands, and when a lateral or centrifugal expansion has 

 occurred — as in the termination of the peacocks' train feathers, 

 the outer web of the secondary quills of the Argus pheasant, 

 or the broad and rounded wings of many butterflies — into 

 variously shaded or coloured ocelli. The fact that we find 

 gradations of colour in many of the more extensive groups, 

 from comparatively dull or simple to brilliant and varied hues, 

 is an indication of some such law of development, due 

 probably to progressive local segregation in the tissues of 

 identical chemical or organic molecules, and dependent on 

 laws of growth yet to be investigated. 



4. The colours thus produced, and subject to much in- 

 dividual variation, have been modified in innumerable ways 

 for the benefit of each species. The most general modifica- 

 tion has been in such directions as to favour concealment 

 when at rest in the usual surroundings of the species, some- 

 times carried on by successive steps till it has resulted in the 

 most minute imitation of some inanimate object or exact 

 mimicry of some other animal. In other cases bright colours 

 or striking contrasts have been preserved, to serve as a warning 

 of inedibility or of dangerous powers of attack. Most frequent 

 of all has been the specialisation of each distinct form by some 

 tint or marking for purposes of easy recognition, especially in 

 the case of gregarious animals whose safety largely depends 

 upon association and mutual defence. 



5. As a general rule the colours of the tw^o sexes are alike; 

 l)ut in the higher animals there appears a tendency to deeper 

 or more intense colouring in the male, due probably to his 

 greater vigour and excitability. In many groups in which 

 tliis superabundant vitality is at a maximum, the develop- 

 ment of dermal a])})en(lages and brilliant colours has gone on 

 increasing till it has resulted in a great diversity between the 

 sexes ; and in most of these cases there is evidence to show 

 t!iat natural selection has caused the female to retain the 

 })rimitive and more sober colours of the group for purposes of 

 protection. 



