II ON ANIMAL LIFE 57 



brilliant colour is doubtless a protection by 

 rendering them more unmistakable. 



COMMUNITIES 



Some animals may delight us especially by 

 their beauty, such as birds or butterflies ; 

 others may surprise us by their size, as Ele- 

 phants and Whales, or the still more marvel- 

 lous monsters of ancient times ; may fascinate 

 us by their exquisite forms, such as many micro- 

 scopic shells ; or compel our reluctant attention 

 by their similarity to us in structure ; but none 

 offer more points of interest than those which 

 live in communities. I do not allude to the 

 temporary assemblages of Starlings, Swallows, 

 and other birds at certain times of year, nor 

 even to the permanent associations of animals 

 brought together by common wants in suitable 

 localities, but to regular and more or less or- 

 ganised associations. Such colonies as those 

 of Rooks and Beavers have no doubt interest- 

 ing revelations and surprises in store for us, 

 but they have not been as yet so much studied 



