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, 1 " whose broad wings, 

 stretched out like fans, looked simply splendid 

 floating 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. 



