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 détre 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 
