EXTERNAL INFLUENCES. 139 



ment in favour of design ; for either the 

 cold and snow -glare fail in their normal 

 effect in the case of animals that do not 

 require the protection of white colour, or 

 the fur of such animals was in some way 

 modified so as not to be susceptible to the 

 influence that cold and snow -glare are 

 alleged to have. 



It may be presumed that the colour of 

 animals was adjusted to maintain the balance 

 of life among different races. The colour of 

 some animals aids them to capture their 

 food, and of others to escape from becoming 

 food. Again, in some cases colour may be 

 a danger-signal to possible victims, and in 

 others may add to the perils of its possessor, 

 who, it may be assumed, has a compensating 

 advantage in some other direction. 



How can common-sense accept this mar- ' 

 vellously delicate and intricate adjustment 

 of the balance of life, partly by colouring 

 and partly by faculties, as the self-evolved 

 outcome of conflicting forces, or of what is 

 called Chance ? 



The Shetland Pony. 



The diminutive size of the Shetland pony 

 has been attributed to adverse conditions of 



