REDUCED WINGS OF BIRDS. 49 



disuse are quite as marked features in neuter 

 insects which cannot transmit the effects of use 

 and disuse as they are in the higher animals. 



REDUCED WINGS OF BIRDS OF OCEANIC ISLANDS. 



Darwin himself has pointed out that the rudi- 

 mentary wings of island beetles, at first thought 

 to be due to disuse, are mainly brought about by 

 natural selection the best-winged beetles being 

 most liable to be blown out to sea. But he says 

 that in birds of the oceanic islands " not perse- 

 cuted by any enemies, the reduction of their 

 wings has probably been caused by disuse." This 

 explanation may be as fallacious as it is acknow- 

 ledged to have been in the case of the island 

 beetles. According to Darwin's own views, 

 natural selection must at least have played an 

 important part in reducing the wings ; for he 



E . 



