RESEMBLANCES AMONG ANIMALS. 127 
and patches of colour, that harmonious blending of 
_ hues in lines and bands and shaded spots, which are 
so general a feature in insects. It is the opinion of 
Mr. Darwin that we owe much of the beauty of 
flowers to the necessity of attracting insects to aid 
in their fertilisation, and that much of the develop- 
ment of colour in the animal world is due to “ sexual 
selection,” colour being universally attractive, and thus 
leading to its propagation and increase; but while 
fully admitting this, it will be evident from the facts 
and arguments here brought forward, that very much 
of the variety both of colour and markings among 
animals is due to the supreme importance of con- 
cealment, and thus the various tints of minerals and 
vegetables have been directly reproduced in the ani- 
mal kingdom, and again and again modified as more 
special protection became necessary. We shall thus 
’ have two causes for the development of colour in the 
animal world, and shall be better enabled to under- 
stand how, by their combined and separate action, 
the immense variety we now behold has been pro- 
duced. Both causes, however, will come under the 
general law of “ Utility,” the advocacy of which, in its 
broadest sense, we owe almost entirely to Mr. Darwin. 
A more accurate knowledge of the varied phenomena 
connected with this subject may not improbably give 
us some information both as to the senses and the 
mental faculties of the lower animals. For it is 
evident that if colours which please us also attract 
them, and if the various disguises which have bcen 
