206 Mr. J. O. Westvvood's Description, ^c. 



The under side of the abdomen and its extremity are similar 

 to those of the ordinary males. 



The theory which this individual appears to authorise us in 

 entertaining is this, that an imperfection of the sexual characters 

 of an individual are occasionally compensated, pro tanto, by the 

 assumption of t^ie characters of the opposite sex. And the cir- 

 cumstance of the assumption of the male plumage by the females 

 of some kinds of birds at an advanced age, and the growth of the 

 beard on the chin and upper lip of aged females, afford some sup- 

 port to this theory. It is true, however, that in these cases the 

 female character which has been lost is supplied by male charac- 

 ters, whereas the contrary takes place in Mr. Hope's Dyticus. It 

 is also true that the neuter hive bee does not support the theory, 

 the neutrality of those individuals being produced by the loss of 

 certain of the characters of the true females, (the inhabitants of 

 the hive having the power to convert a neuter grub into a perfect 

 female or queen bee,) the individuals not assuming any of those 

 of the males. This is, however, an instance of the normal opera- 

 tion of the laws of nature, whereas, perhaps, it would be proper to 

 apply the theory only to true monsters ; but if we are to suppose 

 that the theories to be deduced from the study of monstrous pro- 

 ductions affords a clue to the real nature of normal productions, 

 such a result ought not to occur, and it is, therefore, with the greater 

 hesitation that I have ventured to suggest it, although the insect 

 in question most clearly warrants it, so far as it is concerned. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XI. 



Fig. 2. The insect above described of the natural size. 



2 a, upper, and 2 b, under, side of the anterior tibia and tarsus on the 



left side. 

 2 c, upper, and 2 h, under, side of the anterior tibia and tarsus on the 



right side. 

 2 e, upper, and 2/, under, side of the tarsus of the left middle foot. 

 2 g, upper, and 2 h, under, side of the tarsus of the right middle foot. 

 2 i, under side of the anterior tibia and tarsus of the normal male. 

 2 k, under side of the anterior tibia and tarsus of the normal female. 



