[8]

May 6/68/ As I know of no case where female bright whilst young & then dull, this is very strong argument that she has not been specially rendered dull for protection whilst male has been rendered bright — I had doubt action wd probably be extremely difficult, when directed to directly opposite ends. Hence colour as transmitted to sex seems to have led to form of nest, & not the latter to the determination of colour of female sex. Very good

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[8v]

Perhaps Wallace wd say that ♀ never had become beautiful but had been from first checked, but check came only at maturity. I believe that young wd sometimes show bright colours if changed, because in invariable instance when male has become bright-coloured has he has retained previous dull-colours. I can well believe that a bright-coloured male has never been made dull as sex. selection wd oppose change; but how in such groups as parrots & Humming Birds, how are the young; but in these cases, the change wd be fully as beneficial to young as to old. In Wallace's doctrine it is only during nesting season — so cannot argue from cases when both sexes have changed.