Cli 
[ 'AI>. XVI. 
COLOUR AND PROTECTION. 
223 
the 
young of briglitly-coloured species being more 
f.j ' 1 ,an % coloured than their parents. In the fourth 
however, in which the young and the old resemble 
1 other, there are many species (though by no means 
^ J brightly-coloured, and as these form whole groups, 
Ij . Illfl y infer that their early progenitors were likewise 
^'dly-coloured. With this exception, if we look to 
birds of the world, it appears that their beauty 
" s be eil greatiy increased since that period, of which 
luy e a partial record in their immature plumage. 
ki - 1 ^ le Colour of the Plumage in relation to Pro- 
'll l ° n — It will have been seen that I cannot follow 
Vi Wallace . in the belief that dull colours when con- 
to the females have been in most cases specially 
1^ for the sake of protection. There can, however, 
d'a 
■^d'pORe, so as to escape the notice of their enemies ; or, 
- Sut ne instances, so as to approach their prey unob- 
v, 1 V(i( l, in the same maimer as owls have had their 
0 diage rendered soft, that their flight may not he 
. ei 'beard. Mr. Wallace remarks 50 
do doubt, as formerly remarked, that, both sexes of 
u y birds have had their colours modified for this 
i,. -“iu. Mr. Wallace remarks 50 that “it is only 
i, *d the tropics, among forests which never lose their 
K . 10 ge, that we find whole groups of birds, whose 
■-f colour is green.” 
folk 
VUMV rr rmci iu 
f colour is green.” It will he admitted by every 
p, ’’ ' v bo has ever tried, how difficult it is to distinguish 
l 'ots i n a leaf-covered tree. Nevertheless, we must re- 
(,] 'dber that many parrots are ornamented with crimson, 
a nd orange tints, which can hardly be protective, 
’b peckers are eminently arboreal, but, besides green 
(j h there are many black, and black-and-white 
U ^ s all the species being apparently exposed to 
50 ‘ Westminster Review,’ July, 1S67, p. 5. 
