i THE COLORATION OF MAMMALS 3 



subject of the coloration of mammals, "to conceal 

 herbivorous species from their enemies, and en- 

 abling carnivorous animals to approach their prey 

 unperceived." 



Many very striking facts can be adduced in 

 support of this theory, and no doubt it is of ad- 

 vantage to most species of mammals, birds, reptiles, 

 and insects to harmonise in colour with their 

 surroundings ; but there are many instances in 

 nature, especially amongst birds and insects, where 

 a very striking and conspicuous coloration does not 

 appear to have been prejudicial to the life of a 

 species. 



The highly decorative but very conspicuously 

 coloured plumage to be seen in the males of many 

 species of birds, especially during the breeding 

 season, was considered by the immortal Darwin to 

 be due to the influence of sexual selection, and 

 whatever may be urged against the correctness of 

 this theory, it is supported by a long array of 

 indisputable facts. 



Great, however, as is the divergence between the 

 plumage of the males and females in many species 

 of birds, not only during the breeding season, but 

 in a great number of cases at all times of year, and 

 however gaudy and conspicuous the coloration of 

 the former may be compared with that of the latter, 

 such conspicuous coloration never appears to be 

 prejudicial to the life of a species, though in some 

 cases the brighter coloured male assists the female 

 in incubation, and it would thus appear that in all 

 such cases the sombre coloured plumage of the 

 female was not absolutely necessary for purposes of 

 protection against enemies. 



I therefore think that if it is admitted that bright 

 and conspicuous colours have been evolved in living 

 organisms through the action of the law of sexual 

 selection, without detriment to the life of the species 



