RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. [Note on insects distinguishing colours.] CUL-DAR48.A22. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 9.2021. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR48 contains notes for Natural selection chap. 8 'Transitions of Organs'. Notes on bees' cells for origin of species theory.
[A22]
As fruits which are eaten by Birds, & flowers which are visited by insects have acquired very conspicuous colours, in order that they may be seen by animals [having] possibly the faculty of distinguishing colours for them new advantages, we may infer conversely that colours render object easily seen & recognized, & therefore that it wd be advantageous for animals to have power of discriminating colours, but why only 3 primary colours & not more, or why 2 colours wd not have sufficed, I cannot say.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 26 July, 2023