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[Archival note:] DAR., 197. NOTES ON HOOKER AND APTEROUS INSECTS.

[1]

March 17th Hooker tells me that not only the few Coleoptera, but the one Lepidoptera at Kerguelens Ld were apterous!

[in margin:] The Deer long-legged & fleet in Deserts.

Hooker objects to Desert insects being apterous; but then there are chiefly Heteromera, & do not require in any case God knows why are everywhere commonly apterous: of course I do not pretend that my theory is only cause of apterous conditions. Objects that if Madeira insects were powerfully winged it might have been said it was to recover the Land; very true: but by my theory it wd depend on what proportion were lost & what proportion recovered land whether most survived by not being blown

[2]

out, or by getting back.

Remarks, I ought to ascertain whether the proportion of apterous European insects is great or small. This ought to be worked out as showing means of transport. — as Hooker remarks. —

I think it wd be very curious to work out in Stephens what proportion of British Coleoptera are apterous.

Stephens, James Francis. 1828-1829. Illustrations of British entomology; or, A synopsis of indigenous insects: containing their generic and specific distinctions. London: Baldwin & Cradock. 2 vols. in 1 of "Haustellata". [on Beagle ] [CUL-DAR240: "3 vols (i…iv)"] CUL-DAR.LIB.609 PDF [Text PDF F1968]