SOCIAL TRANSITIONS 259 



and fast line, or even a fairly distinct band between 

 social and sub-social living. 



One phase of the social implications of sex has 

 escaped general comment. I heard it first mentioned 

 by Professor Wheeler. (123) Apparently when there 

 is a social difference between the sexes it is the fe- 

 males that are the more and the males the less social; 

 and the few striking exceptions only confirm the 

 rule. 



Among the social ants, bees and wasps the normal 

 affairs of the colony are carried on by the females. 

 They produce males only when they are needed to 

 fecundate the young virgin females at the time of 

 their nuptial flight. The males contribute nothing 

 to the protection, feeding or housing of the colony; 

 after their one sexual activity they die or are killed 

 off, and the females which are lucky enough to 

 secure a good nesting site carry on with their female 

 offspring until sexual reproduction again becomes 

 the order of the day (Figure 47). 



With many of the herds of mammals, the main 

 duties of communal life are borne by the females. 

 They protect and rear the young and herd together 

 to protect each other. The males keep to themselves 

 except during the relatively brief period of the 

 sexual rut. Even when they join the main herds, as 

 in the case of the Scottish red deer, frequently the 



