284 CREATION BY LAW. 
crest of sapphire,” but either of these may be much 
better than no crest at all; and the different conditions 
under which the parent form must have existed in 
different parts of its range, will have determined dif- 
ferent variations of tint, either of which were ad- 
vantageous. The reason why female birds are not 
adorned with equally brilliant plumes is sufficiently. 
clear; they would be injurious, by rendering their pos- 
sessors too conspicuous during incubation. Survival 
of the fittest, has therefore favoured the development 
of those dark green tints on the upper surface of so 
many female humming birds, which are most conducive 
to their protection while the important functions of 
hatching and rearing the young are being carried on. 
Keeping in mind the laws of multiplication, variation, 
and survival of the fittest, which are for ever in action, 
these varied developments of .beauty and harmonious 
adjustments to conditions, are not only conceivable 
but demonstrable results. 
The objection I am now combating is solely founded 
on the supposed analogy of the Creator’s mind to 
ours, as regards the love of Beauty for its own sake ; 
but if this analogy is to be trusted, then there ought 
to be no natural objects which are disagreeable or 
ungraceful in our eyes. And yet it is undoubtedly 
the fact that there are many such. Just as surely 
as the Horse and Deer are beautiful and graceful, 
the Elephant, Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus, and Camel 
are the reverse. The majority of Monkeys and Apes 
are not beautiful ; the majority of Birds have no beauty 
