192 
RUSSET-NKCKEl) N IG IITJ AR. 
as a fence for the large mouth, out of which otherwise 
many an insect would slip away. But the bristles get 
clogged up, and the God who made this bird has 
provided it Avith as perfect a comb to clean them with, 
as is to be found on the table of any lady in Europe! 
I should like to knoAv how such a provision could have 
been given by “natural selection,” or “variation,” or 
by any other “aid to theory,” Avhich Mr. DarAvin or 
Dr. Asa Gray Avould assign as the means by Avhich 
this beautiful adaptation was produced? To imagine 
that this comb on the claw of the long middle toe is 
an accidental variation, is to surrender common sense. 
Still more absurd Avould be the inference that such a 
variation could have been produced by successive steps 
through a long series of years. The bristles and the 
comb haA"e a distinct relation to each other. They are 
parts of the organic structure of the being. Did they 
vary separately or simultaneously? Were they produced 
independently or in distinct relation to each other ? 
How much more good would the RevicAvers of DarAvin 
do by going into questions like these, rather than giving 
us long and very often unintelligible and dull disser- 
tations, in Avhich fine Avriting is more aimed at than 
sound science. The physiological part of the question, 
evidently the most important, they seldom or ever 
touch. 
The prevailing tint of the upper plumage is grey, 
more or less tinged with rufous, which is the prevailing 
colour of the wings and all the inferior parts. The 
head has the sides grey, Avith a broad band of rufous, 
and dark brown longitudinal spots between. The nape 
is composed of the rufous collar which gives the bird 
its name. Back and upper tail coverts and feathers 
grey, barred and striated irregularly Avith rufous and 
