18661872] SEXUAL SELECTION 83 



astonishing antiquity. After reading Landois' paper I have Letter 446 

 been working at the stridulating organ in the lamellicorn 

 beetles, in expectation of finding it sexual, but I have only 

 found it as yet in two cases, and in these it was equally 

 developed in both sexes. I wish you would look at any 

 of your common lamellicorns and take hold of both males 

 and females and observe whether they make the squeaking 

 or grating noise equally. If they do not, you could perhaps 

 send me a male and female in a light little box. How curious 

 it is that there should be a special organ for an object appar- 

 ently so unimportant as squeaking. Here is another point : 

 have you any Toucans ? if so, ask any trustworthy hunter 

 whether the beaks of the males, or of both sexes, are more 

 brightly coloured during the breeding season than at other 

 times of the year ? I have also to thank you for a previous 

 letter of April 3rd, with some interesting facts on the variation 

 of maize, the sterility of Bignonia and on conspicuous seeds. 

 Heaven knows whether I shall ever live to make use of half 

 the valuable facts which you have communicated to me. . . . 



To J. Jenner Weir. Letter 447 



Down, June i8th [1868]. 



Many thanks. I am glad that you mentioned the linnet, 

 for I had much difficulty in persuading myself that the 

 crimson breast could be due to change in the old feathers, as 

 the books say. I am glad to hear of the retribution of the 

 wicked old she-bullfinch. You remember telling me how 

 many Weirs and Jenners have been naturalists ; now this 

 morning I have been putting together all my references about 

 one bird of a pair being killed, and a new mate being soon 

 found ; you, Jenner Weir, have given me some most striking 

 cases with starlings ; Dr. Jenner gives the most curious case 

 of all in Philosophical Transactions^ and a Mr. Weir gives the 

 next most striking in Macgillivray. 2 Now, is this not odd ? 

 Pray remember how very glad we shall be to see you here 

 whenever you can come. 



1 Phil. Trans., 1824. 



2 Macgillivray's History of British Birds, Vol. I., p. 570. See Descent 

 of Man (1901), p. 621. 



