382 
SEXUAL SELECTION: BIEDS. 
pAB T 1 
for some distinct purpose, perhaps for gaining a wart 0 ^ 
winter covering ; and that variations in tiie plum®^ 
occurring during the summer were accumulated throt'r 
sexual selection, and transmitted to the offspring at 1 1 
same season of the year. Such variations being 
ritecl either by both sexes or by the males alone, ace 1 ’’ 1 ., 
ing to the form of inheritance which prevailed. " jj 
appears more probable tbap that these species i» !l j 
cases originally tended to retain their ornames 11 ! 
plumage during the winter, but w r ere saved from m 1 
through natural selection, owing to the iueonveni eJl 
or danger thus caused. 
I have endeavoured in this chapter to shew that j 
arguments are not trustworthy in favour of the 
tl»« 
vie"' 
that weapons, bright colours, and various ornam en ' 
are now confined to the males owing to the convert 1 j 
by means of natural selection, of a tendency to the 
transmission of characters to both sexes into tran sJlU f 
sion to the male sex alone. It is also doubtful 'yrb^ ]e 
the colours of many female birds are due to the p reS . e jj 
vation, for the sake of protection, of variations w’b 1 ® 
were from the first limited in their transmission * , 
temale sex. But it will be convenient to defer 
further discussion on this subject until I treat, m ^ 
following chapter, on the differences in plumage bet w£,e 
the young and old. 
