30 CONTROLLED NATURAL SELECTION 



and from different heights, from the tops of 

 cliffs as well as from the bases, not once in a 

 day will they become difficult to see. 



If the Sheldrake is protectively coloured, 

 and this is the only alternative, then why does 

 it utilise a different colouring from the other 

 shore birds, which are undoubtedly protec- 

 tively coloured the Waders, &c. ? If, on 

 the other hand, it is conspicuously coloured, 

 how does it manage to hold its own against 

 hawks and other predatory animals ? By 

 living always in open country where it cannot 

 be approached unawares, by always being 

 close to water where it can seek safety by 

 diving. 



Why is it conspicuously coloured ? 



Although to show the raison d'etre of con- 

 spicuous colouring would add much to the 

 above argument, this must be reserved for a 

 future chapter, in order to prevent confusion 

 and overlapping of the subject. 



The next example chosen is the >Stonechat 

 (Pratincola Rubicola), a bird presenting a very 

 similar colour to the Sheldrake black, red, 

 and white. These are its habits. It lives 

 and breeds on open commons, always a con- 

 spicuous bird from its habit of constantly 

 perching on the topmost branches of the 



