Ciur. XXI. 



NATURAL SELECTION. 220 



It is certain that insects regulate in many cases the range 

 and even the existence of the higher animals, whilst living 

 under their natural conditions. Under domestication light- 

 coloured animals suffer most : in Thuringia 15 the inhabitants do 

 not like grey, white, or pale cattle, because they are much more 

 troubled by various kinds of flies than the brown, red, or black 

 cattle. An Albino negro, it has been remarked, 16 was peculiarly 

 sensitive to the bites of insects. In the West Indies 17 it is 

 said that " the only horned cattle fit for work are those which 

 "have a good deal of black in them. The white are terribly 

 " tormented by the insects ; and they are weak and sluggish in 

 proportion to the white." 



In Devonshire there Js a prejudice against white pigs, because 

 it is believed that the sun blisters them when turned out ; 18 and 

 I knew a man who would not keep white pigs in Kent, for the 

 same reason. The scorching of flowers by the sun seems like- 

 wise to depend much on colour ; thus, dark pelargoniums suffer 

 most ; and from various accounts it is clear that the cloth-of-gold 

 variety will not withstand a degree of exposure to sunshine 

 which other varieties enjoy. Another amateur asserts that not 

 only all dark-coloured verbenas, but likewise scarlets, suffer 

 from the sun ; " the paler kinds stand better, and pale blue is 

 perhaps the best of all." So again with the heartsease (Viola 

 tricolor) ; hot weather suits the blotched sorts, whilst it destroys 

 the beautiful markings of some other kinds. 19 During one 

 extremely cold season in Holland all red-flowered hyacinths 

 were observed to be very inferior in quality. It is believed 

 by many agriculturists that red wheat is hardier in northern 

 climates than white wheat. 20 



With animals, white varieties from being conspicuous are the 

 most liable to be attacked by beasts and birds of prey. In 

 parts of France and Germany where hawks abound, persons are 

 advised not to keep white pigeons ; for, as Parmentier says, " it 



15 ' Bechstein, ' Naturgesch. Deutsch- Pig, p. 24. 



lands,' 1801, B. i. s. 310. 19 < Journal of Horticulture, 1862, pp. 



1G Prichard, ' Piiys. Hist, of Man- 476, 498 ; 1865, p. 460. With respect 



kind,' 1851, vol. i. p. 224. to the heartsease, ' Gardener's Chro- 



U G. Lewis's 'Journal of Residence nicle,' 1863, p. 628. 



in West Indies,' ' Home and Col. 20 \ D es j ac infhes, de leur Culture,' 



Library,' p. 100. 17 68; p 53 . on wheat, ' Gardener's 



18 Sidney's edit, of Youatt on the Chronicle,' 1846, p. 653. 



