New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-09


40, forth by Nj. Darwin, the qualities which are
most favorable to the preservation of the individual
~ tbe GRAND struggle for existence are transmitted
f,,o one generation TO another, and finally become
ircornoratcd with the permanent characteristics of
rho species The variations which occur in the
animal kingdom under the action Of natural laws so
far rs they are beneficial to their subject under ITS
Conditions of Life, are preserved, while those OF
c. rary character destroyed. Natural selection
~ psrsonify the influence for moment. seeks only
a.. good of the being on whom she acts She con-
SANITY scrutinizes the slightest variations rejecting
tose that are bad preserving all that good, and
thus silently eifecting the improvement OF each
organic being in relation TO its organic and inorganic
conditions of life. She makes use of the slightest
differences of character and structure, even those
which we should consider of trivial Importance, IN
order to accomplish her purpose in the preservation
Of the individual. Thus when we see the insects
that feed leaves of green color, and those that
fred ON bark, of notified gray, the Alpine ptarn-
gan white in Winter and the red grouse of the same
color with the heather infer that these tints are
Of service 10 the birds and insects in preserving
them from danger
The principle of sexual selection, the other
hand depends not the struggle for existence, but
on q struggle between the males for the possession
If the females of which the result is not the death
OF The unsuccessful competitor but the absence o,
offspring As rule, the most vigorous males, anu
those provided with special weapons oil a''a0N
aud defense, would leave the most numerous
progeny. stag without horns, OF Co'N
without spurs, would come of secohu OeS,
IN the contest for victory anu "ouiu
have little or no chance of leaving many
descendants Sexnal selection, by allowing only
the conoucror in battle TO breed, would thus give
lenrth tn the snur strength to the wing sharpness
t the tsks toughness TO the horns, and perpetuate
thcse oualities in successive generations. Among
birds the contest is often of more peaceful charac-
ter. The severest rivalry has been found to exist
among the males Of many species in order to attract
the females by their song and the brilliant colors OF
their ulunage Successive males display their gor-
geous az tire and perform strange antics before the
females. which stand by spectators OF the snow,
and finally choose the most attractive partner AS
the breeders of pigeons and other fancy BIRDS, sue
coed in a short time in giving them favonte color
OF FORM according TO their standard OF beauty So
If cannot be doubted. that female birds, during
thousands of generations, by selecting the most
melodious OF beautiful males, according to their
standard of taste, would produce marked effect
ON the character Of the species The same principle
applies 10 the whole animal creation. When the
males and females Of any animal have the same
general habits of life, but differ in color, structure,
OF ornament, such differences are due to the prlncl-
ple of sexual selection. Individual males, in sue
cessivc generations have enjoyed some slight advan-
tacc over other males in their weapons means of de-
tense. or powers of charming and have transmitted
their advantages in some degree TO their descend
ants but more especially to those of their own SEX
in accordance with natural law which Mr.. Darwin
fully discusses in the progress of the work.
large portion Of these volumes is devoted to the
aho MI ned
forming one OF the most remarkable contributions to
the science of natural history that have ever been
presented by any writer, whether regard the Gu
rous nature Of the facts that have been gathered
from every quarter Of the globe, or the persuasive
aptncss with which they are applied by the author
- the support of his theory, Our space forbds
anything like a connected summary of his argu-
mcnts and illustrations, even if we possessed the
ability Tor the task, and will only take rapid
glance at few of his statements, which, whatever
impression they may leave as to the correctness of
the principle, furnish fresh chapter of novel and
wonderful interest on the structure and habits OF a
large portion of the animal kingdom.
To begin with the family of butterflies and moths
of whose manners and customs Mr.. Darwin has been
a close observer ne tells that their courtship APP
pears 10 be long affair. Several males may often be
seen pirouetting round the same female, until the
spectator is tired of watching the game. Although
butterflies such weak and fragile creatures, they
are sngularly pugnaciOus. They have sometimes
been caught with the tips of the wings broken in
contest between the males They turn round with
great Iapidity, and appear to be melted by the ut
most ferOcity. Every admiTes the remarkable
beauty of many butterflies and some moths. But this
is soon found TO be connected with sexual relations
With most of the English butterflies the sexes are
alike in respect of color and beauty But in certain
nf tbo Ern1 ish
butterflies the differ either greatly or slightly
in color No language can describe the splendOr of
che males of some tropical species Even within the
same genus we often find species presenting an ex
traOIdnAry difference between the sexes while in
Others the sexes are closely alike In genus all
the species are remarkable for their conspicuous and
strongly contrasted colOrs, and illustrate the fire.
quent tendency to graduation in the amount of differ
ence between the sexes. In few species the males
and females alike, in others the males little
OF very much more superby cOlored than the fe
males. Some cases occur in which both sexes are
nearly alike and wonderfully splendid; i'll others, |
the males colOred in similarly gorgeous manner
while the whole surface of the female is of dull
uniform brown. In general when the of butter
flies differ the male is the most beautiful and de-
pars most widely from the usual type of cOlorng of
the group. A many gorgeous butterflies inhabit
the tropics il has been supposed that they their
colors to the great heat and moisture of the climate
But comparison of groups of insects from the tenn
perate and tropical regions shows that this view is
untenable The evidence becomes conclusive when
We find brilliantly males and plain-cOlOred
females in the same district, feeding the same
food with exactly the same habits of life. Ii is diff
6cult to believe. even when the sexes resemble each
other that their brilliant colors without purpose,
the result Of the nature of the tissues and the action
of the surrounding conditions.