In Controlled Natural Selection and Value Marking, J. C. Mottram lays out a theory that coloration, displays, and family behavior steer evolution as surely as natural selection itself.

The book compares how parents, young, and mates use color and movement to protect the most valuable members of a species. It shows how pre‑copulatory displays, parental sacrifices, and attracting signals work together to influence which traits endure from generation to generation. Using examples from British birds and other animals, it explains why some colors are warning, some are cryptic, and some are used mainly by males to protect the young or the female.

How parental instincts and young behavior affect survival and reproduction
Why attracting coloration can trigger both protection and risk
How pre‑copulatory and courtship displays relate to overall survival strategies
Concrete examples from birds and insects to illustrate the theory

Ideal for readers of popular science, bird lovers, and anyone curious about how nature uses color and behavior to shape life.

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