[6]

[Draft of Descent, Chap. XVI, folio 213, botom half]

tried to distinguish [text under tape]

with leaves how difficult it is. Nevertheless we must remember how many parts are coloured ornamented with the most vivid & diversified colours. Crimson, blue & other tints, which can hardly be protective. Woodpeckers are eminently arboreal, but besides green species, there are many black & black & white kinds,— all apparently exposed to nearly the same dangers. I am inclined to believe It is therefore probable that all these bright & or conspicuous strongly pronounced colours have been chiefly gained acquired through sexual selection; but that green tints, from the birds haunting tree with the tree-haunting birds, the green tints have had an advantage through natural selection by the protection which they afforded to birds that habitually haunted leafy trees.)

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[6v]

[Earthworms note:]

Nov 26 1871 or 1870 I think

I watered with very fine rose pulpy castings just thrown up, & it was surprising how long they resisted the drops. I suppose owing to their adhesiveness, drops of rain however, wd fall with greater force. When at last & very slowly they did disappear amongst the finely mown turf, they seemed to sink perpendicularly downwards. As this seemed improbable I mixed fine chalk powder with saliva to same consistence as fresh casting, & then mixed this with