The Making of Species 
when lying in the shadow of the nest and sur- 
rounded by the many colours and tints of bark 
and moss, of purple buds and tender green or 
yellow foliage, with all the complex glittering 
lights and mottled shades produced among these 
by the spring sunshine and sparkling rain-drops, 
they must have quite a different aspect from that 
which they possess when we observe them torn 
from their natural surroundings.” 
The obvious comment on this is that it is very 
fine and poetic English, but it is not science. It 
is futile to deny what should be obvious to every 
field naturalist, namely, that the majority of eggs 
laid in open nests are most conspicuous. 
D. Dewar thus summarises the main facts 
which show that eggs in nests (as opposed to 
those laid on the bare ground) are not pro- 
tectively coloured :— 
‘‘r, Allied species of birds, even though their 
nesting habits are very different, as a rule lay 
similarly coloured eggs. 
“2, Eggs laid in domed nests certainly do not 
need protective colouring, yet many of these are 
coloured. 
“3. The same is true of many eggs laid in 
holes in trees or in buildings. 
‘4, The protective resemblances of eggs which 
are laid in the open are apparent to everyone, 
which certainly is not true of those deposited in 
nests. 
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