' SOME OF THE "LOWER ORDERS" 191 



change, unless, and until, checked by Natural Selection, 

 whereby its further progress in any given direction may 

 be barred, or some other element or aspect of the coloration 

 may be introduced. 



Given this controlling factor, all the various types 

 of coloration would seem to be interpretable. By almost 

 common consent, however, the resplendent coloration of 

 the males among many species of birds, a coloration often 

 apparent only during the reproductive period, and the 

 more conspicuous ornamentation of the males of many 

 other groups, higher and lower in the scale of organiza- 

 tion, are supposed to be governed by an entirely different 

 factor — female choice, or preference. The exercise of 

 this, it is contended, has gone on for countless generations, 

 and the tendency has ever been to heighten the intensity 

 of the ornament by the rejection of the less favoured 

 suitors in favour of their more resplendent rivals. Birds 

 and Butterflies alike are supposed to be swayed by the 

 same irresistible desire to mate, and mate only with 

 what we may call the smartest and best-groomed of their 

 many suitors ; and these, of course, being the most 

 vigorous, most virile, sustain the stamina of the race and 

 so attain Nature's end. 



So long as attention was focused alone, or mainly, on 

 birds conspicuous for the highly ornamental character 

 of their plumage, this theory seemed reasonable and 

 probable enough, for one may admit in their courtships 

 an element, at least, of intelligence and keenness of per- 

 ception. But it has now been abundantly demonstrated 

 that the animated displays so characteristic of these gaily- 

 bedecked gallants, are enacted with no less persistence 

 and vim by species which exhibit a Quaker-like soberness 

 of dress. Thus, then, the champions of the Sexual 



