The Making of Species 



must bear in mind that it does not necessarily 

 follow that these warning colours can be ac- 

 counted for on the theory of natural selection. 

 For, in order to explain the existence of any 

 organ by the action of natural selection, we must 

 be able to demonstrate the utility, not only of 

 the perfected organ, but of the organ at its very 

 beginning, and at each subsequent stage of 

 development. This, as we shall show, is pre- 

 cisely what the Neo- Darwinians are unable to 

 do. We shall have no difficulty in proving that 

 it would be more advantageous even to a highly 

 nauseous creature to have remained inconspic- 

 uously coloured rather than to have gradually 

 become more and more conspicuous. 



In the first place, let us briefly examine the 

 evidence on which rests the assertion that all 

 gaudily-coloured insects, etc., are unpalatable, or 

 possess stings, or mimic forms which are thus 

 armed. 



In England wasps, bees, and ladybirds are 

 familiar examples of conspicuous insects. 



The banded black and yellow pattern of the 

 common wasp and the humble bee are regarded 

 as advertisements or danger signals of the power- 

 ful sting. 



The red-coat with its black spots is similarly 

 believed to be a warning that the ladybird is not 

 fit to be eaten. 



Caterpillars are usually coloured grey or brown, 

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