OF NATURAL HISTORY. 2*7 



reptile, and has not the fmalleft veftige of wings. But the 

 male is a real beetle with four wings, and is fo difpropor- 

 tioned to the female in fize, that their jun<^ion fliould ap^ 

 pear to be equally fingular as that of a ram with an elephant. 

 With regard to the pucerons, or vine-fretters, the males are 

 winged ; but the females remain during Ufe totally deftitute 

 of wings. In fome fpecies of them, however, the females 

 have wings, and thefe inftruments of motion are denied to 

 the males. Between the lize of the male and female puce- 

 rons, there is likewife a remarkable difproportion. The 

 males, particularly thofe which have no wings, are fo com- 

 paratively fmall, that they run about, like the male gall-in- 

 fects, upon the backs of the females. While this exercife 

 continues, which is often very long, the female remains aU 

 moft motionlefs. The more infenlibility and liftleiTnefs 

 fhown by the female, the male exhibits the greater ardour 

 and agility. In this iituation he pafTes whole days without 

 taking any nourifhment. 



In birds of prey, the females are larger, ftronger, fiercer, 

 and more beautiful than the males. This fuperiority of 

 ftrength and magnitude is conferred on the females, becaufe, 

 in general, they are obliged to procure food both for them- 

 felves and for their progeny. Vultures, however, are to be 

 excepted ; for the males are equal in fize, if they do not 

 exceed that of the females. In the gallinaceous tribe of 

 birds, on the contrary, the males are larger, more beautiful, 

 and more courageous, than the females. The pe?.cock, the 

 turkey, the pheafant, and the dunghill cock, are remarkable 

 examples. Dunghill cocks, efpecially that kind of them 

 which are called game-cocks, are the moft intrepidly bold and 

 high-fpirited animals in the creation. Nothing but abfolute 

 death can make them yield to an antagonift. In the domef- 

 tic ftate, at leaft, this intrepidity, and this daring fpirit, re- 

 fult from competition, and jealoufy of rivals. Game-cocks, 



