WCP513

[1]

British Embassy,

St. Petersburg.

15 June 1894 —

Dear Sir,

Perhaps you have not noticed a passage in Schopenhauer that might interest you as foreshadowing, in part, your explanation of the "Recognition marks" in animals.

I translate it as follows: "one accounts for the [2] wonderfully varied and vividly glowing coloration of the plumage of tropical birds, although only in a very general way, by the stronger influence of light between the tropics — as its causa effeciens. As its causa finalis I should say that their brilliant plumages are the full-dress uniforms ["Pracht uniformen"] by means of which the individuals of the numberless species, [3] often belonging to one and the same genus, recognize each other, so that every male finds its female."

The last remark seems out of place, as the females are the less modified and intensely coloured than their mates. He adds : —

"The same applies to the butterflies of the different zones and latitudes."

The passages occurs in [4] "Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung." (Zur Teleologie)¹"

Believe me, | Dear Sir | Yours very Truly | G. Norman Douglass [signature]

Pray do not trouble to acknowledge this.