COLOtJKS OF PLANa:^. 



230 



quite sure that an excess of light has had nothing to do 

 with the development of these exceptionally bright and 

 handsome flowers. Unfortunately we have no information 

 as to the insects of these islands, but from their scarcity 

 in New Zealand we can hardly expect them to be other- 

 wise than very scarce. There are however two species 

 of honey-sucking birds (Prosthemadera and Anthornis) 

 as well as a small warbler (Myiomoira), and we may be 

 pretty sure that the former at least visit these large and 

 handsome flowers, and so effect their fertilization. The 

 most abundant tree on the islands is a species of Metro - 

 sideros, and we know that trees of this genus are com- 

 mon in the Pacific islands, where they are almost certainly 

 fertilized by the same family of Meliphagidae or honey- 

 sucking birds. 



I have now concluded this sketch of the general 

 phenomena of colour in the organic world. I have 

 shown reasons for believing that its presence, in some of 

 its infinitely-varied hues, is more probable than its 

 absence ; and that variation of colour is an almost 

 necessary concomitant of variation of structure, of 

 development, and of growth. It has also been shown how 

 colour has been appropriated and modified both in the 

 animal and vegetable worlds for the advantage of the 

 species in a great variety of ways, and that there is no 

 need to call in the aid of any other laws than those of 

 organic development and natural selection to explain 

 its countless modifications. From the point of view 

 here taken it seems at once improbable and unnecessary 

 that the lower animals should have the same delicate 

 appreciation of the infinite variety and beauty — of the 



