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The Descent of Man

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orange wing-tips <strong>of</strong> the male; consequently she<br />

closely resembles the white butterflies (Pieris)<br />

so common in our gardens; but we have no<br />

evidence that this resemblance is beneficial to<br />

her. As, on the other hand, she resembles both<br />

sexes <strong>of</strong> several other species <strong>of</strong> the genus inhabiting<br />

various quarters <strong>of</strong> the world, it is<br />

probable that she has simply retained to a large<br />

extent her primordial colours.<br />

Finally, as we have seen, various considerations<br />

lead to the conclusion that with the greater<br />

number <strong>of</strong> brilliantly-coloured Lepidoptera it is<br />

the male which has been chiefly modified<br />

through sexual selection; the amount <strong>of</strong> difference<br />

between the sexes mostly depending on<br />

the form <strong>of</strong> inheritance which has prevailed.<br />

Inheritance is governed by so many unknown<br />

laws or conditions, that it seems to us to act in a<br />

capricious manner (28. <strong>The</strong> 'Variation <strong>of</strong> Animals<br />

and Plants under Domestication,' vol. ii.<br />

chap. xii. p. 17.); and we can thus, to a certain

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