22 COURTSHIP. 



COUETSHIP. 



In a family possessing such degenerate females, 

 which for the most part are inert and unadorned, and 

 where, as in the Diaspinae, they are completely hidden 

 by their shield-like covering, one would naturally infer 

 that the choice of selection, if existing at all, would 

 remain with the more or less brightly coloured active 

 males. This apparently holds good in the majority of 

 cases, but there are certainly exceptions among the 

 Dactylopiinw, where the female seeks the companion- 

 ship of the male, and travels comparatively long dis- 

 tances to do so. 



The females of certain species of Lecaninm display 

 a nuptial dress of reds and shaded crimsons w it'll 

 white zebra-like markings, which renders them most 

 conspicuous, and it is highly probable that these 

 colours may be attractive to the males. 



One of the most remarkable habits of courtship oc- 

 curs in a species of Pseudococcus inhabiting l;ilmnmms, 

 in which the female is to all appearance the active 

 party, and assiduously conducts the courtship. In 

 winter the sexes live apart, the females inhabiting the 

 smaller branches of the tree, while the males, still in the 

 pupal stage, and enclosed within their cocoon-like sacs, 

 are packed together on the sheltered side of the tree 

 trunk. During the first warm sunny days in March 

 the females become very active, and may be seen tra- 

 velling down the branches on to the tree trunk, where 

 they appear continually to search for their partners. 

 So anxious do they appear to reach the breeding- 

 ground that they precede the emergence of the males 

 1>\ several days. In due course, generally after a 

 weeks' sunshine, the dingy-coloured and somewhat 

 sluggish males put in their appearance, and may be 

 seen leisurely walking over the sunlit bark. After 

 fecundation the females return to the branches, often 



