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The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

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WHEN THE ADULT FEMALE IS MORE<br />

CONSPICUOUS THAN THE ADULT MALE,<br />

THE YOUNG OF BOTH SEXES IN THEIR<br />

FIRST PLUMAGE RESEMBLE THE ADULT<br />

MALE.<br />

This class is exactly the reverse <strong>of</strong> the last, for<br />

the females are here brighter coloured or more<br />

conspicuous than the males; and the young, as<br />

far as they are known, resemble the adult males<br />

instead <strong>of</strong> the adult females. But the difference<br />

between the sexes is never nearly so great as<br />

with many birds in the first class, and the cases<br />

are comparatively rare. Mr. Wallace, who first<br />

called attention to the singular relation which<br />

exists between the less bright colours <strong>of</strong> the<br />

males and their performing the duties <strong>of</strong> incubation,<br />

lays great stress on this point (13. 'Westminster<br />

Review,' July 1867, and A. Murray,<br />

'Journal <strong>of</strong> Travel,' 1868, p. 83.), as a crucial test<br />

that obscure colours have been acquired for the<br />

sake <strong>of</strong> protection during the period <strong>of</strong> nesting.<br />

A different view seems to me more probable.

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