[74r]

towards the further end; that is they are not sufficiently lateral. We have, however, no right to expect absolute perfection in a part rendered ornamental through sexual selection, any more than we have in a part modified through natural selection for real use; for instance in that wondrous organ the human eye. And we know what Helmholtz, the highest authority in Europe on the subject, has said about the human eye; namely that if an optician had sold him an instrument so carelessly made, he would have thought himself fully justified in returning it. to him*)

(* Popular Lectures on Scientific Subjects. Eng. Trans. 1873. p. 219, 227, 269, 390)

 

p. 152. (A)

We have moreover good evidence that Humming-birds take especial pains in displaying their tail-feathers; Mr. Belt* (* The Naturalist in Nicaragua, 1874. p. 112) after describing the beauty of the Florisuga mellivora, says, "I have seen the female sitting