Contributions to the theory of natural selection. A series of essays ... By Alfred Russel Wallace ...

284 CREATION BY LAW.
crest of sapphire," but either of these may be much
better than no crest at all; and the different conditions
under which the parent form must have existed in
different parts of its range, will have determined different variations of tint, either of which were advantageous. The reason why female birds are not
adorned with equally brilliant plumes is sufficiently
clear; they would be injurious, by rendering their possessors too conspicuous during incubation. Survival
of the fittest, has therefore favoured the development
of those dark green tints on the upper surface of so
many female humming birds, which are most conducive
to their protection while the important functions of
hatching and rearing the young are being carried on.
Keeping in mind the laws of multiplication, variation,
and survival of the fittest, which are for ever in' action,
these varied developments of beauty and harmonious
adjustments to conditions, are not only conceivable
but demonstrable results.
The objection I am now combating is solely founded
on the supposed analogy of the Creator's mind to
ours, as regards the love of Beauty for its own sake;
but if this analogy is to be trusted, then there ought
to be no natural objects which are disagreeable or
ungraceful in our eyes. And yet it is undoubtedly
the fact that there are many such. Just as surely
as the Horse and Deer are beautiful and graceful,
the Elephant, Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus, and Camel
are the reverse. The majority of Monkeys and Apes
are not beautiful; the majority of Birds have no beauty