Mating 57 



about us the unholy gang ; they are in clouds, each 

 cloud composed of individuals of a single sex, fluttering 

 and describing fantastic evolutions, executing, by the 

 sound produced by the vibration of their wings and 

 halteres, an orchestration or recitative chorus, ruled by 

 the baton of Eros." 



This depressing music may be resolved into two 

 tones, one higher, made by the males, the other 

 lower, made by the females. The pitch of the 

 whole sound is different with different species also, 

 the chant of C. fatigans differing from that of S. 

 calopus, and that of T&niorhyncJius being unlike that 

 of A nop Jules. 



The sexes recognise each other at some distance 

 by the song. " There is," says Dr. Goeldi, 



" nothing more unceremonious than the union of the 

 sexes ; one female suddenly leaves her companions and 

 approaches the dancing cloud of males. Immediately 

 she is seized by a male and, united, they leave the wild 

 multitude with a hum. Rarely they show the faintest 

 care, giddily they dash against everything, even rolling 

 on the ground. Sometimes one female will be seized by 

 two males at once and all three will tumble about 

 together in a frenzy." 



Dr. Dupree speaks of the female calopus as a 

 veritable Messalina, always ready to receive the 

 approaches of her consort with unresisting submis- 

 sion, however frequent they may be, retiring ex- 

 hausted but not satisfied. The male is none the less 

 amorous, being ever ready to renew his attentions 

 whenever the whereabouts of the female is located, 



