258 



ANIMAL COLORATION. 



beautiful or tlie more obtrusive coloration. Probably they are 

 equal: on a sandyground the female would be more obvious than 

 the male; on greyish soil, or among decayed-leaves, perhaps, 

 the male reptile would be more visible than his mate. 



The great variety of sexual diversity which is found among 

 birds has furnished most arguments for the theories of 



Fig. 30. — Humming bird. 



Fig. 31.— Argus Plieasaut. 



sexual coloration. Every gradation is found, from perfect 

 resemblance, such as is afforded by the goldfinch, to th& 

 extreme differences exhibited in the case of the birds of 

 paradise. As a general rule the male is distinguished by 

 greater brilliancy of tints, and by the exclusive possession, 

 of crests and wattles and other appendages ; or by their- 

 greater development if they are found in both sexes. But 

 it would be difficult to point to either sex among certaini 



