(135

The Taphroderes follows the usual though not universal male in most Lepidoptera, & used not much of [illeg] with insects of all kinds of the males being in some degree smaller than the females. *(Kirby & Spence. Intro Ent. vol. 3 p. 299) [n: 12]. (a) with mammalia the males are generally larger, then the females, in order no doubt to struggle with other males. With carnivorous Birds & some other Kinds see [Byct]the males are smaller, & this is supposed, whether rightly, I will not pretend to say, to favour the female obtaining prey for her young. But why, it may be asked, are female [crossed] male insects commonly larger generally smaller than their male partners? Dr. Wallace apparently has [line illeg]

[Descent 1: 345: n12: "Kirby and Spence, 'Introduction to Entomology,' vol. iii. p. 299."]

[135v]

(a) This difference is so well marked even in the cocoon stage with the silk-moth (Bombyx mori) that the French cultivator by a process of weighing, described by Robinet* [n:13] (*……………….) separate the light cocoons which will produce males from the heavier ones which will produce female; & seldom err. [Descent 1: 335,n14]

[Descent 1: 346, n13: "Robinet, 'Vers à Soie,' 1848, p. 207." and n14: "'Transact. Ent. Soc.' 3rd series, vol. v. p. 486."]