RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Abstract of Duthiers L. 'Annales Des Sciences Naturelles Zool'. CUL-DAR48.A29. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 9.2021. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR48 contains notes for Natural selection chap. 8 'Transitions of Organs'. Notes on bees' cells for origin of species theory.
[A29]
In the beautiful figures given by M. Lacaze Duthiers Annal. des Sc. Nat. 3d Ser. Zoolog. Tome 12. p. 353 it is impossible not to see the strict similarity in all the parts however modified of the ovipositor in the several families of Hymenoptera. N. B. In Ephiathes one of the strict Ichneumonidae (Westwood) & in Sirex one of the Uroceridæ, the spiculæ are barbed as in wasps. These are both wood-borers.
I had better say, "that even supposing the barbs are of use to wasp & for keeping in sting for poison to flow or for any other purpose, yet not perfect. Duthiers
[A29v]
seem to consider barbs are of use to keep them in during their alternate movement so thin the sheath or [gorgerat] might penetrate. He does not however specially apply this to wasps & Bees.
p 373 The Ichneumon have gland enterng their ovipositor
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 16 October, 2023