272 
INSULARITY. 
tan.” We have seen that our Brefeldia selected the shadiest 
situation attainable for its habitat, and it is certain from the 
investigations of numerous enquirers, my own among the 
number, that colourless protoplasm cannot encounter strong 
and continuous light, without serious injury, if not death. 
In a paper which I read in this place last year, I drew 
attention to the protection against the injurious action of 
light afforded to the colourless protoplasm of the plant by 
chlorophyll, or the green colouring matter of leaves and other 
organs; and the intense colouring of the Myxomycetes, I am 
convinced has a similar function. Its history, however, is 
very different from that of chlorophyll. It is in no way depend¬ 
ent on light for its production, but is, as I have proved by 
direct experiment, formed in normal quantity in complete 
darkness. The true explanation of its appearance is, I 
believe, to be found in adaptive variation, in its most simple 
and typical form. Individuals which had acquired a slight 
tint through causes perhaps quite independent of light, were 
able to exist in situations more favourable to their growth in 
other respects, but impracticable for their unprotected com¬ 
panions, owing to strong illumination. Thus a distinct 
advantage was conferred upon the coloured specimens, 
resulting in greater robustness and permanence, and so in 
the course of successive generations just those colours came 
to be developed which afforded most protection against the 
injurious influence of light. 
INSULARITY. 
BY THE REV. H. H. SLATER. 
(Concluded from page 246.) 
Let me assure you that this picture of purposeless slaughter 
and suffering is not in the least degree overdrawn, but only 
such as I have myself witnessed over and over again, and 
such as may be seen in suitable localities on our coasts every 
autumn. And the actors are apt to use the word “sport,” 
and to say that they have enjoyed “ good sport” and so on. 
Sport, forsooth ! If this were the general meaning of the 
word “ sport,” field sports would deserve to be doomed to¬ 
morrow, and would die unregretted by all who had any of the 
feelings of a gentleman or a Christian. Happily the humanity 
of real sportsmen is not a thing which requires to be 
demonstrated. 
To return to the collector. He is a person, as a rule, who 
takes no sort of interest in the structure or habits of the 
