( clxxxiv ) 



How exactly each of these characters is beneficial, can often 

 only be conjectured. But as none of them exist, or are even 

 indicated, in the $ $ , I feel little doubt that they all relate 

 to the one specially male duty, viz. Pairing. 



I have long been convinced that hairs of insects are 

 frequently sensitive, and that, accordingly, limbs exhibiting 

 pilosity-c\\?iY&ciQ\-s which would otherwise seem inexplicable, 

 may pi-obably be not locomotive* organs simply, but receptive 

 of sense-impressions, and communicative of information sub- 

 sidiary to that received from eyes, antennae, palpi, etc. In 

 that case many $ leg-characters Avould come under Darwin's 

 Category of " Finding the $ ." Others, as the tooth-like and 

 thorn-like processes, might help to grapple f and" secure " her. 

 But this, as I have said, appears to be mainly the work of the 

 mandibles. And I suspect that both antennae and legs may 

 be much employed in (and adapted for) various caressing or 

 invitatory actions, which are agreeable to the $ , or at any 

 rate have influence over her, somewhat as an Aphid stroked 

 by an Ant's antennae consents to produce her honey-dew — 

 whether charmed or pestered into consenting, who shall say ? 

 Not knowing what may be the special susceptibilities of this 

 or that 5 Aculeate, I can only offer vague conjectures. But 

 it seems possible, at least, that some paradoxical feature in the 

 antennae or legs of the $ might appeal persuasively to the ? 's 

 sense of sight, or touch, or to some other sense, which we 

 Vertebrates do not possess and cannot definitely conceive. 

 And if so, the character would come under the Category of 

 " Charming." 



Male Aculeates have certainly in some cases a power of 

 influencing their $ $ by appealing to special sensibilities in 

 the latter. It has long been observed that the S $ oi some 

 Bees (e. g. Bomhus and Psithyrus spp.) emit agreeable and 

 characteristic scents, and Mr. Sladen's recent observations 

 make it clear that these odours are recognised and enjoyed by 



* That legs of insects are not always merely locomotive organs seems 

 certain. It is stated on good authority that some Orthoptera have auditory 

 organs in the legs ; that some Diptcra undoubtedly use their front-legs as 

 feelers ; that some Coleoptcra have amazingly long front-legs, unsuitable 

 for walking and not applied to that purpose, but held aloft and brandished 

 about like antennae, as the insects move : etc. 



t See Note B. at the end of the Address. 



