108 DARWINIAN INTERESTS 



diminished, the tendency to scarlet next developed itself 

 in excess, being determined by the perchers (whose gizzard 

 would not grind the seeds) and which were attracted by the 

 color, and soon led to the extinction of all but the full scarlet 

 forms. 



Nonsense apart, I should suppose that it is to imitate a 

 scarlet insect and thus attract insectivorous birds, or frugi- 

 vorous perchers, of weak digestions, that the color is acquired. 

 The plant is a very common Indian one, and it would be 

 easy to ascertain how far it is a prey to birds. 



Early in 1867 he was urged to accept nomination at the 

 next meeting of the British Association for the Presidency of 

 1868. This honour he at first declined ; as he wrote to Darwin 

 (February 4, 1867) : 



The fact is that I have an insuperable aversion to high 

 places ; the acceptance would have been bad dreams in 

 anticipation for 18 months, and a downright surgical opera- 

 tion at the end of it ! I believe I inherit this from my father, 

 who never would put himself forward, or be put forward, 

 and I am sure it paid in the end. I was also actuated by the 

 fact that I can see no way to a good * Address.' I played 

 out my trump card at Nottingham, knowing that if I were 

 called upon to be President (which I had already good reason 

 to expect) and accepted, I was throwing away my last chance 

 of success. Lastly it would stand terribly in the way of my 

 work both Genera Plant arum and Insular Botany. Here- 

 above is a pretty dose of egotism even from one friend to 

 another. 



Darwin's approval was a relief, and he begged for support 

 in his resolution, if the subject cropped up, against his friends 

 of the x Club, whose joint attack he had much difficulty in 

 beating off, though ' with a heavy heart, for I would fain have 

 obliged them.' They dwelt on the scientific need of it, especially 

 after the choice for 1867 of social prestige instead of scientific 

 distinction, in the person of the Duke of Buccleuch. 



But though he doubted whether the post, with all its dis- 

 tractions from research, was one for the most scientific men of 

 the day to aspire to, he had to yield to the insistence of all 



