201 
1885.] Colouring-matters of Flowers and Fruits. 
from the animal they furnish conclusive evidence as to its 
external structure ; but if the photographs have merely been 
taken from a drawing they may embody merely the invention 
or the exaggerations and distortions of the artist. We fear 
that the latter is the case, because the figure before us re- 
presents the animal standing on its feet, with its necks 
eredf, and its eyes and jaws open as if ready for combat. 
We doubt strongly whether any explorer on the Beni would 
travel provided with the necessary appliances for the in- 
stantaneous photographic process. The writer in “ Cosmos,” 
who does not give his name, obtained his account from his 
brother, a missionary in Chili, who had translated it from 
the original Spanish of the “Journal de Luna.” He pro- 
mises, however, further information as soon as it is 
obtained. 
IV. THE COLOURING-MATTERS OF FLOWERS 
AND FRUITS. 
WHETHER we assert that the colouring principles of 
r -0) flowers and fruits have been evolved by a process 
of natural selection, or that they have been deter- 
mined by a direCt creative a < 5 t, we give merely a final cause 
for their appearance, leaving the efficient cause or causes 
untouched. Yet to many minds it is assuredly the more 
interesting to know how, when, and where the various 
colouring-matters have been formed, and by what mechanism 
they have been transported to those particular parts of the 
plant where we find them, leaving its other parts untouched. 
We almost fear that the popular study of Natural Selection 
has withdrawn attention from these questions. Naturalists 
have come to think that if it can but be shown how the 
development of intense colour in the flower attracts inseCts 
and promotes cross-fertilisation, all is explained, and presto ! 
the colour must make its appearance. 
It is therefore satisfactory to find that Dr. A. Hansen has 
recently carried out some very important researches on the 
colouring-matter of flowers. His chief results have been 
VOL. VII. (third series). 
Q 
