The Descent of Man

illiant in the males—Examples—Not due to
the direct action of the conditions of life—
Colours adapted for protection—Colours of
moths—Display—Perceptive powers of the
Lepidoptera—Variability— Causes of the difference
in colour between the males and females—Mimicry,
female butterflies more brilliantly
coloured than the males—Bright colours of
caterpillars—Summary and concluding remarks
on the secondary sexual characters of
insects—Birds and insects compared.
In this great Order the most interesting points
for us are the differences in colour between the
sexes of the same species, and between the distinct
species of the same genus. Nearly the
whole of the following chapter will be devoted
to this subject; but I will first make a few remarks
on one or two other points. Several males
may often be seen pursuing and crowding
round the same female. Their courtship appears
to be a prolonged affair, for I have fre-