198 
SEXUAL SELECTION: BIRDS. 
PART 
, 11 . 
tints of both sexes of many birds had been acquired ^ 
preserved for the sake of protection, — for example 
the hedge-warbler or kitty-wren (Accentor modular is 1111 
Troglodytes vulgaris), with respect to which we have 1 
sufficient evidence of the action of sexual selecta' 1 ^ 
We ought, however, to be cautions in concluding 
or th lt 
the 
colours which appear to us dull, are not attractive to 
females of certain species; we should bear in mind s® . 
cases as that of the common house-sparrow, in wb 11 - 
,eJ> 
the male differs much from the female, but does 1,1 
exhibit any bright tints. No one probably will disp 1 
that many gallinaceous birds which live on the °P L .^ 
ground have acquired their present colours, at least 
part, for the sake of protection. We know how well tn • 
are thus concealed ; we know that ptarmigans, 
changing from their winter to their summer plum® 1 " 
both of which are protective, suffer greatly from bffi 
of prey. Hut can we believe that the very slight 1 
ferences in tints and markings between, for insta® , 
the female black and red-grouse serve as a protect!® 
Are partridges, as they are now coloured, better 1 
tected than if they had resembled quails? 
slight differences between the females of the com’ 11 
pheasant, the Japan and golden pheasants, serve 
protection, or might not their plumages have 
interchanged with impunity? From v hat Mr- ' ^ 
lace has observed of the habits of certain gallin® ce ^ 
birds in the East he thinks that such slight differ 
are beneficial. For myself, I will only say that 1 
not convinced. 0 p 
Formerly when I was inclined to lay much s ^ reS ^ eS s 
the principle of protection, as accounting for the^t 
bright colours of female birds, it occurred to m e im- 
possibly both sexes and the young might aborig 11 ' 1 ^ 
have been brightly coloured in an equal degree , 
tl‘« 
9 
