CHAPTER IX 



THE IMPORTANCE OF EECOGNITION-MAKKS FOR EVOLUTION 



The great problem of the exact causes of the infinitely varied 

 colours and markings of the different species of the higher 

 animals, is now gradually receiving an adequate amount of 

 attention, and in consequence an almost complete solution. 

 In the Origin of Species Darwin dealt with only one branch, 

 of the subject — coloration for concealment, and that only in- 

 cidentally ; but he at once accepted, and with enthusiasm, 

 Bates's explanation of the beautiful phenomena of mimicry 

 among insects, and also that of warning colours in the in- 

 edible caterpillars, first suggested by myself. 



The whole subject, especially that of mimicry, is now so 

 largely developed as to require many volumes for its adequate 

 exposition ; and I have myself given a summary of the more 

 interesting facts in my Darwinism: I shall therefore deal very 

 briefly with it here, with the one exception of that form of 

 it which I have named " recognition marks." These, though 

 the last to be generally accepted have received the least at- 

 . tent ion ; but, after many years' consideration of the whole 

 problem of evolution I have come to the conclusion that, of 

 all the causes of distinctive marking (among the higher ani- 

 mals at all events), the need for easy recognition under the 

 varied conditions of their existence is for most animals the 

 most important. It is, however, on account of their being 

 in most cases absolutely essential as a factor in the evolution 

 of new species that I here devote the larger part of this chapter 

 to their consideration. 



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