The Descent of Man

ptarmigans, whilst changing from their winter
to their summer plumage, both of which are
protective, suffer greatly from birds of prey.
But can we believe that the very slight differences
in tints and markings between, for instance,
the female black-grouse and red-grouse serve
as a protection? Are partridges, as they are now
coloured, better protected than if they had resembled
quails? Do the slight differences between
the females of the common pheasant, the
Japan and gold pheasants, serve as a protection,
or might not their plumages have been interchanged
with impunity? From what Mr. Wallace
has observed of the habits of certain gallinaceous
birds in the East, he thinks that such
slight differences are beneficial. For myself, I
will only say that I am not convinced.
Formerly when I was inclined to lay much
stress on protection as accounting for the duller
colours of female birds, it occurred to me that
possibly both sexes and the young might abori-