The Making of Species 
must bear in mind that it does not necessarily 
follow that these warning colours can be ac- 
counted for on the theory of natural selection. 
For, in order to explain the existence of any 
organ by the action of natural selection, we must 
be able to demonstrate the utility, not only of 
the perfected organ, but of the organ at its very 
beginning, and at each subsequent stage of 
development. This, as we shall show, is pre- 
cisely what the Neo-Darwinians are unable to 
do. We shall have no difficulty in proving that 
it would be more advantageous even to a highly 
nauseous creature to have remained inconspic- 
uously coloured rather than to have gradually 
become more and more conspicuous. 
In the first place, let us briefly examine the 
evidence on which rests the assertion that all 
gaudily-coloured insects, etc., are unpalatable, or 
possess stings, or mimic forms which are thus 
armed. 
In England wasps, bees, and ladybirds are 
familiar examples of conspicuous insects. 
The banded black and yellow pattern of the 
common wasp and the humble bee are regarded 
as advertisements or danger signals of the power- 
ful sting. 
The red-coat with its black spots is similarly 
believed to be a warning that the ladybird is not 
fit to be eaten. 
Caterpillars are usually coloured grey or brown, 
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