[360]

P. sinensis — axis free with glass filament — 2 cots & plumule, no true leaves — plant has faced light. Oct. 15th

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[360v]

Chap. 8

state, he is convinced tha[text excised]

numerous, and Several [text excised]

this view. Mr. Doubleday, howe[text excised]

posite view, and are conv[text excised]

from the egg and caterpill[text excised]

of males than of females.) R[text excised]

of the males, their earlier [text excised]

and their frequenting in som[text excised]

other causes may be assign[text excised]

proportional numbers of the sexes when

in the imago state and wh[text excised]

or caterpillars state. It is believe[text excised]

as I hear from Prof. Canes[text excised]

of the silk-moth suffers n [text excised]

and Dr. Staudinger informs [text excised]

more females than males d[text excised]

species the female caterpillar [text excised]

a collector would naturally [text excised]

thus unintentionally collec[text excised]

Three collectors have told [text excised]

but Dr. Wallace is sure th[text excised]

specimens which they call [text excised]

alone would be are worth [text excised]

[Descent 1: 310-11: "Mr. Stainton, who has paid such close attention during many years to the smaller moths, informs me that when he collected them in the imago state, he thought that the males were ten times as numerous as the females, but that since he has reared them on a large scale from the caterpillar state, he is convinced that the females are the most numerous. Several entomologists concur in this view. Mr. Doubleday, however, and some others, take an opposite view, and are convinced that they have reared from the egg and caterpillar states a larger proportion of males than of females.
Besides the more active habits of the males, their earlier emergence from the cocoon, and their frequenting in some cases more open stations, other causes may be assigned for an apparent or real difference in the proportional numbers of the sexes of Lepidoptera, when captured in the imago state, and when reared from the egg or caterpillar state. It is believed by many breeders in Italy, as I hear from Professor Canestrini, that the female caterpillar of the silk-moth suffers more from the recent disease than the male; and Dr. Staudinger informs me that in rearing Lepidoptera more females die in the cocoon than males. With many species the female caterpillar is larger than the male, and a collector would naturally choose the finest specimens, and thus unintentionally collect a larger number of females. Three collectors have told me that this was their practice; but Dr. Wallace is sure that most collectors take all the specimens which they can find of the rarer kinds, which alone are worth the trouble of rearing."]

[361]

Oct 16th P. sinensis Cot

(axis of) as yesterday Filament attached to axis

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[361v]

Chap. 8

four to five females are sent [text excised]

for one male. [text excised]

When this subject [text excised]

of the sexes of insects was [text excised]

Society 60 *(X), it was generally a[text excised]

diptera, when caught in the

males are in excess: caught in greater numbers than the females; but [text excised]

various observers and to the more [text excised]

males, and and to the males en[text excised]

This latter circumstance is [text excised]

most Lepidoptera, and other as well as in[text excised]

with remarks, the males of the domesticated Bom[text excised]

remarks the males " are lost as the [text excised]

the females at the end are [text excised]

I cannot however persuade [text excised]

fice to explain the great [text excised]

above given which refer [text excised]

in their various native con[text excised]

paid such close attention d[text excised]

moths, informs me that u[text excised]

imago state, he thought th[text excised]

as numerous as the femal[text excised]

reared on a large scale, [text excised]

[Descent 1: 310-11: "I may here add, that in Hyperythra, a genus of moths, Guenée says, that from four to five females are sent in collections from India for one male.
When this subject of the proportional numbers of the sexes of insects was brought before the Entomological Society,61 it was generally admitted that the males of most Lepidoptera, in the adult or imago state, are caught in greater numbers than the females; but this fact was attributed by various observers to the more retiring habits of the females, and to the males emerging earlier from the cocoon. This latter circumstance is well known to occur with most Lepidoptera, as well as with other insects. So that, as M. Personnat remarks, the males of the domesticated Bombyx Yamamai, are lost at the beginning of the season, and the females at the end, from the want of mates.62 I cannot however persuade myself that these causes suffice to explain the great excess of males in the cases, above given, of butterflies which are extremely common in their native countries. Mr. Stainton, who has paid such close attention during many years to the smaller moths, informs me that when he collected them in the imago state, he thought that the males were ten times as numerous as the females, but that since he has reared them on a large scale from the caterpillar state, he is convinced that the females are the most numerous.
61 'Proc. Entomolog. Soc.' Feb. 17th, 1868.
62 Quoted by Dr. Wallace in 'Proc. Ent. Soc.' 3rd series, vol. v. 1867, p. 487."]