darwin and modern science-第97章
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s remarked； for the purpose of causing pain or for doing an injury to its possessor。〃 （〃Origin of Species〃 （1st edition） 1859； page 201。）
The study of adaptation always had for Darwin； as it has for many； a peculiar charm。 His words； written Nov。 28； 1880； to Sir W。 Thiselton… Dyer； are by no means inapplicable to…day： 〃Many of the Germans are very contemptuous about making out use of organs； but they may sneer the souls out of their bodies； and I for one shall think it the most interesting part of natural history。〃 （〃More Letters〃 II。 page 428。）
PROTECTIVE AND AGGRESSIVE RESEMBLANCE： PROCRYPTIC AND ANTICRYPTIC COLOURING。
Colouring for the purpose of concealment is sometimes included under the head Mimicry； a classification adopted by H。W。 Bates in his classical paper。 Such an arrangement is inconvenient； and I have followed Wallace in keeping the two categories distinct。
The visible colours of animals are far more commonly adapted for Protective Resemblance than for any other purpose。 The concealment of animals by their colours； shapes and attitudes； must have been well known from the period at which human beings first began to take an intelligent interest in Nature。 An interesting early record is that of Samuel Felton； who （Dec。 2； 1763） figured and gave some account of an Acridian （Phyllotettix） from Jamaica。 Of this insect he says 〃THE THORAX is like a leaf that is raised perpendicularly from the body。〃 （〃Phil。 Trans。 Roy。 Soc。〃 Vol。 LIV。 Tab。 VI。 page 55。）
Both Protective and Aggressive Resemblances were appreciated and clearly explained by Erasmus Darwin in 1794： 〃The colours of many animals seem adapted to their purposes of concealing themselves either to avoid danger； or to spring upon their prey。〃 （〃Zoonomia〃； Vol。 I。 page 509； London； 1794。）
Protective Resemblance of a very marked and beautiful kind is found in certain plants； inhabitants of desert areas。 Examples observed by Burchell almost exactly a hundred years ago have already been mentioned。 In addition to the resemblance to stones Burchell observed； although he did not publish the fact； a South African plant concealed by its likeness to the dung of birds。 （Sir William Thiselton…Dyer has suggested the same method of concealment （〃Annals of Botany〃； Vol。 XX。 page 123）。 Referring to Anacampseros papyracea； figured on plate IX。； the author says of its adaptive resemblance： 〃At the risk of suggesting one perhaps somewhat far… fetched； I must confess that the aspect of the plant always calls to my mind the dejecta of some bird； and the more so owing to the whitening of the branches towards the tips〃 （loc。 cit。 page 126）。 The student of insects； who is so familiar with this very form of protective resemblance in larvae； and even perfect insects； will not be inclined to consider the suggestion far…fetched。） The observation is recorded in one of the manuscript journals kept by the great explorer during his journey。 I owe the opportunity of studying it to the kindness of Mr Francis A。 Burchell of the Rhodes University College； Grahamstown。 The following account is given under the date July 5； 1812； when Burchell was at the Makkwarin River； about half…way between the Kuruman River and Litakun the old capital of the Bachapins （Bechuanas）： 〃I found a curious little Crassula （not in flower） so snow white； that I should never has （have） distinguished it from the white limestones。。。It was an inch high and a little branchy；。。。and was at first mistaken for the dung of birds of the passerine order。 I have often had occasion to remark that in stony place（s） there grow many small succulent plants and abound insects （chiefly Grylli） which have exactly the same colour as the ground and must for ever escape observation unless a person sit on the ground and observe very attentively。〃
The cryptic resemblances of animals impressed Darwin and Wallace in very different degrees； probably in part due to the fact that Wallace's tropical experiences were so largely derived from the insect world； in part to the importance assigned by Darwin to Sexual Selection 〃a subject which had always greatly interested me；〃 as he says in his 〃Autobiography〃； （〃Life and Letters〃； Vol。 I。 page 94。） There is no reference to Cryptic Resemblance in Darwin's section of the Joint Essay； although he gives an excellent short account of Sexual Selection （see page 295）。 Wallace's section on the other hand contains the following statement： 〃Even the peculiar colours of many animals； especially insects； so closely resembling the soil or the leaves or the trunks on which they habitually reside； are explained on the same principle； for though in the course of ages varieties of many tints may have occurred； YET THOSE RACES HAVING COLOURS BEST ADAPTED TO CONCEALMENT FROM THEIR ENEMIES WOULD INEVITABLY SURVIVE THE LONGEST。〃 （〃Journ。 Proc。 Linn。 Soc。〃 Vol。 III。 1859； page 61。 The italics are Wallace's。）
It would occupy too much space to attempt any discussion of the difference between the views of these two naturalists； but it is clear that Darwin； although fully believing in the efficiency of protective resemblance and replying to St George Mivart's contention that Natural Selection was incompetent to produce it （〃Origin〃 （6th edition） London； 1872； pages 181； 182； see also page 66。）； never entirely agreed with Wallace's estimate of its importance。 Thus the following extract from a letter to Sir Joseph Hooker； May 21； 1868； refers to Wallace： 〃I find I must （and I always distrust myself when I differ from him） separate rather widely from him all about birds' nests and protection； he is riding that hobby to death。〃 （〃More Letters〃； I。 page 304。） It is clear from the account given in 〃The Descent of Man〃； （London； 1874； pages 452…458。 See also 〃Life and Letters〃； III。 pages 123…125； and 〃More Letters〃； II。 pages 59…63； 72…74； 76…78； 84…90； 92； 93。）； that the divergence was due to the fact that Darwin ascribed more importance to Sexual Selection than did Wallace； and Wallace more importance to Protective Resemblance than Darwin。 Thus Darwin wrote to Wallace； Oct。 12 and 13； 1867： 〃By the way； I cannot but think that you push protection too far in some cases； as with the stripes on the tiger。〃 （〃More Letters〃； I。 page 283。） Here too Darwin was preferring the explanation offered by Sexual Selection （〃Descent of Man〃 （2nd edition） 1874； pages 545； 546。）； a preference which； considering the relation of the colouring of the lion and tiger to their respective environments； few naturalists will be found to share。 It is also shown that Darwin contemplated the possibility of cryptic colours such as those of Patagonian animals being due to sexual selection influenced by the aspect of surrounding nature。
Nearly a year later Darwin in his letter of May 5； 1868？； expressed his agreement with Wallace's views： 〃Expect that I should put sexual selection as an equal； or perhaps as even a more important agent in giving colour than Natural Selection for protection。〃 （〃More Letters〃； II。 pages 77； 78。） The conclusion expressed in the above quoted passage is opposed by the extraordinary development of Protective Resemblance in the immature stages of animals； especially insects。
It must not be supposed； however； that Darwin ascribed an unimportant role to Cryptic Resemblances； and as observations accumulated he came to recognise their efficiency in fresh groups of the animal kingdom。 Thus he wrote to Wallace； May 5； 1867： 〃Haeckel has recently well shown that the transparency and absence of colour in the lower oceanic animals； belonging to the most different classes； may be well accounted for on the principle of protection。〃 （〃More Letters〃； II。 page 62。 See also 〃Descent of Man〃； page 261。） Darwin also admitted the justice of Professor E。S。 Morse's contention that the shells of molluscs are often adaptively coloured。 （〃More Letters〃； II。 page 95。） But he looked upon cryptic colouring and also mimicry as more especially Wallace's departments； and sent to him and to Professor Meldola observations and notes bearing upon these subjects。 Thus the following letter given to me by Dr A。R。 Wallace and now； by kind permission； published for the first time； accompanied a photograph of the
