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The Descent of Man

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unusually bright colours, they best exhibit this<br />

difference. <strong>The</strong> female <strong>of</strong> the Mus minutus <strong>of</strong><br />

Russia is <strong>of</strong> a paler and dirtier tint than the male.<br />

In a large number <strong>of</strong> bats the fur <strong>of</strong> the male<br />

is lighter than in the female. (21. J.A. Allen, in<br />

'Bulletin <strong>of</strong> Mus. Comp. Zoolog. <strong>of</strong> Cambridge,<br />

United States,' 1869, p. 207. Mr. Dobson on<br />

sexual characters in the Chiroptera, 'Proceedings<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Zoological Society,' 1873, p. 241.<br />

Dr. Gray on Sloths, ibid. 1871, p. 436.) Mr. Dobson<br />

also remarks, with respect to these animals:<br />

"Differences, depending partly or entirely on<br />

the possession by the male <strong>of</strong> fur <strong>of</strong> a much<br />

more brilliant hue, or distinguished by different<br />

markings or by the greater length <strong>of</strong> certain<br />

portions, are met only, to any appreciable<br />

extent, in the frugivorous bats in which the<br />

sense <strong>of</strong> sight is well developed." This last remark<br />

deserves attention, as bearing on the<br />

question whether bright colours are serviceable<br />

to male animals from being ornamental. In one<br />

genus <strong>of</strong> sloths, it is now established, as Dr.

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