418 
facts will suffice to shew that transforming influences, 
apart from Natural Selection, are fully able to produce 
favourable variations. 
Organic colouring is the indication of specific differences; 
and it is the reasonable opinion of some writers that 
specific variations are highly useful to the groups which 
they serve to indicate. 
“ Easy recognition is important to all animals, and especially to 
those which are gregarious and whose safety largely depends upon 
their keeping together. ... I was struck by the remarkable 
fact that a large number of antelopes, which are usually protectively 
coloured with sandy or earth-coloured tints, are nevertheless rendered 
conspicuous by large white patches, usually behind or on the flanks, 
and often accompanied by peculiar white marks on the face, but 
always different in each species. ... It seems to me probable 
that these markings have been acquired for the purpose of enabling 
any strayed member of the herd to recognise his fellows, and to be 
recognised by them. . . . Most of these animals depend for 
safety on keeping together, when they can defend themselves against 
most beasts of prey ; and as each kind will not usually allow animals 
of another species to join them, it becomes doubly important that 
every species should have a distinctive marking, especially with 
desert animals, which are obliged to roam far in search of food and 
water, and still more when there are many allied species of the same 
general form inhabiting the same country.”—(Fort7iighlly Review, 
vol. xl., pp. JOJ-6.) 
“Mr. J. E. Todd, discussing the subject of ‘Directive Coloration 
in Animals,’ in the American Naturalist, defines directive coloration 
as that which is in any way useful to a species, by assisting in mutual 
recognition between individuals, or by indicating one to another their 
attitude of body, and probable movements. Of this he gives a 
number of instances.”—(Scientific News. vol. i., p. 516.) 
It is highly probable that these specific differences of 
colour are due to the direct action of definite causes, and 
do not arise from Natural Selection. Mr. Henslow con 
tends that this is the case in the somewhat analogous 
instance of “ the peculiar and special displays of bright 
tints distributed in spots and streaks in certain and 
definite places only, in flowers. These have been called