THE YOUNG LIKE THE ADULT FEMALES. 197 
<V 
Ap. 
XVI. 
Vli'- 11 Wou ^ generally have been masked by the 
Hot ' aUt c °l° nrs gained through sexual selection; but 
sit'j 8 ° W '^ 1 t ' le f ema l es ' Each of the endless diver- 
j- '. s j u plumage, which we see in our domesticated 
a Hcl S 18 ’ coulse ’ * be resu it °i' some definite cause ; 
otie Un( ^ er na t ura l and more uniform conditions, some 
m 6 i ,ln b assuming that it was in no way injurious, would 
in ! ,l08t certainly sooner or later prevail. The lree 
Sa f l ' Cr °ssirLg of the many individuals belonging to the 
1(3 species would ultimately tend to make any change 
colour, thus induced, uniform in character, 
i ° ° ne doubts that both sexes of many birds have 
(l)i ^ jlieir colours adapted for the sake of protection ; 
lria 1( ts possible that the females alone of some species 
^ ave ^ een tlnus modified. Although it would be a 
1 <»lt, perhaps an impossible process, as shewn in the 
e ^ a pter, to convert through selection one form of 
lllto -another, there would not be the least 
i n adapting the colours of the female, inde- 
n centiy of those of the male, to surrounding objects, 
tl >h the accumulation of variations which were from 
Ust limited in their transmission to the female sex. 
hi 6 V!Uaa< -> o ns were not thus limited, the bright tints of 
the llia ' e W0L1 ^ be deteriorated or destroyed. Whether 
ee ietnaIes aIone of man y s P eciew have been thus 
1 c Cl <dly modified, is at present very doubtful. I wish 
follow Mr. Wallace to the lull extent ; for the 
tion lSS ^ 0n W0U Ei remove some difficulties. Any varia- 
"bicli were of no service to the female as a protec- 
w ould be at once obliterated, instead of being lost 
or jT y by not being selected, or from free intercrossing, 
it, u j ° m being eliminated when transferred to the male 
J." an y way injurious to him. Thus the plumage of 
W 0h i J" ln , ale would be kept constant in character. It 
ul( i also 
be a relief if we could admit that the obscure 
