↑ 5 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1861; present in 1866 1869 1872 |
We can understand
how it is that such harmonious beauty generally prevails
throughout nature.
That there are exceptions
according to our ideas
of beauty, no one will doubt
who will look at some of the
venomous snakes, at some fish,
and at certain hideous bats with a distorted resemblance to the human face.
Sexual selection has given,
generally to the males alone but sometimes to both sexes,
the most brilliant and beautiful colours, as well as other ornaments, to our
birds, butterflies, and a few
other animals.
It has
rendered the voices
of many
male birds
musical to their
females,
as well as to our ears.
Flowers and fruit have been rendered conspicuous by gaudy
colours in contrast with the green foliage, in order that the flowers might
be easily seen, visited, and fertilised by insects, and the fruit have their
seeds disseminated by birds.
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↑ 1 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869; present in 1872 |
How it comes that certain colours, sounds, and forms should give pleasure to man and the lower animals,— that is, how the sense of beauty in its simplest form was first acquired,— we do not know any more than how certain odours and flavours were first rendered agreeable.
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→ the 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
and improves the 1872 |
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→ the degree of perfection of their associates; 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
the other inhabitants; 1869 |
their co-inhabitants; 1872 |
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→ specially created and 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
created and specially 1869 1872 |
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→ and if some 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
as in the case even 1872 |
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→ be 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
human eye; or if some of them be 1872 |
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→ causing 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
when used against an enemy often causing 1869 |
when used against an enemy, causing 1872 |
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→ and being then 1859 1869 1872 |
with the great majority 1860 1861 1866 |
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→ variation 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
acknowledged variations 1869 |
the production of varieties 1872 |
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→ so-called specific forms. 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
so-called specific differences. 1869 |
distinct species. 1872 |
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→ but little direct effect; yet when varieties enter any zone, they occasionally assume some of the characters of the species proper to that zone. 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
some direct and definite effect, but how much we cannot say. 1869 1872 |
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