i86 THE COURTSHIP OF ANIMALS 



Mystery Play of Sex which first catch the attention of the 

 investigator. To account for these the theory of " Sexual 

 Selection " was first devised. 



After the birds, probably the group most conspicuous 

 for its splendour is that which contains the Scale-winged 

 Insects or Lepidoptera, and it has always been allowed 

 that any explanation of the one must apply also to the 

 other. It seems impossible to avoid this conclusion. 

 But before going further it would be well to take note of 

 one or two interesting features in regard to coloration 

 that have so far not been touched upon in these pages. 



The Coloration of Animals is generally regarded as a 

 by no means fortuitous feature, but one, on the contrary, 

 controlled and determined by various factors. Hence 

 are recognized various kinds of coloration : Obliterative or 

 Protective-resemblance Coloration ; Warning Coloration ; 

 Mimetic Coloration ; and Epigamic Coloration, or the 

 colours associated with courtship. These various types 

 have been subdivided and accorded technical labels by 

 Professor E. B. Poulton, in his " Colours of Animals," 

 but these need not be enlarged upon here. Suffice it 

 to say that it is generally held that all forms of colora- 

 tion can be explained, and all can be labelled, as to their 

 origin, with more or less certainty. There are those who 

 doubt the warranty for this classification. Commonly, 

 it must be admitted, the arguments of these sceptics 

 are not impressive ; they are sometimes even stupid. 

 That such coloration, however it be labelled, is subjected 

 to some control seems to be shown in the case of the 

 Lepidoptera, for, generally, in the Butterflies, the upper 

 surface of the wings is much more vividly coloured than 

 the under surface, and this, apparently, because when the 

 creature is at rest the wings are brought up over the back 



