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The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

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llars were protected by having a nauseous taste;<br />

but as their skin is extremely tender, and as<br />

their intestines readily protrude from a wound,<br />

a slight peck from the beak <strong>of</strong> a bird would be<br />

as fatal to them as if they had been devoured.<br />

Hence, as Mr. Wallace remarks, "distastefulness<br />

alone would be insufficient to protect a caterpillar<br />

unless some outward sign indicated to its<br />

would-be destroyer that its prey was a disgusting<br />

morsel." Under these circumstances it<br />

would be highly advantageous to a caterpillar<br />

to be instantaneously and certainly recognised<br />

as unpalatable by all birds and other animals.<br />

Thus the most gaudy colours would be serviceable,<br />

and might have been gained by variation<br />

and the survival <strong>of</strong> the most easily- recognised<br />

individuals.<br />

This hypothesis appears at first sight very bold,<br />

but when it was brought before the Entomological<br />

Society (33. 'Proceedings, Entomological<br />

Society,' Dec. 3, 1866, p. xlv. and March 4, 1867,

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