CREATION BY LAW. 243 



the first place, it is to be observed of the whole 

 group that there is no connexion which can be 

 traced or conceived between the splendour of the 

 Humming Birds and any function essential to their 

 life. If there were any such connexion, that 

 splendour could not be confined, as it almost ex^ 

 clusively is, to one sex. The female birds are 

 of course not placed at any disadvantage in the 

 struggle for existence by their more sombre colour- 

 ing. Mere utility in this sense, therefore, can have 

 had no share in determining one of the most re- 

 markable of all the characteristics of this family 

 of birds. Those who by special study have laid 

 their mind alongside of the Mind of Nature in 

 any of her Provinces, have generally imparted to 

 them a true sense, so far as it goes, in the inter- 

 pretation of her mysteries. Let us then hear what 

 Mr Gould says on this point : — "The members of 

 most of the genera have certain parts of their 

 plumage fantastically decorated ; and in many 

 instances most resplendent in colour. My own 

 opinion is, that this gorgeous colouring of the 

 Humming Birds has been given for the mere pur- 

 pose of ornament, and for no other purpose of 



