Permutations of Sex 



possible for her laying to be represented as 

 m — I, ?« — 2, 7}i — 3, etc. females and by 

 « -f I, « -f 2, « + 3) etc. males, the sum of 

 m -\- n remaining constant, but one of the 

 sexes being partly permuted into the other. 

 The ultimate conclusion even cannot be dis- 

 regarded: we must admit a set of eggs rep- 

 resented by 7n — m, or zero, females and of 

 n -j- m males, one of the sexes being com- 

 pletely replaced by the other. Conversely, It 

 must be possible for the feminine series to be 

 augmented from the masculine series to the 

 extent of absorbing it entirely. It was to 

 solve this question and some others connected 

 with it that I undertook, for the second time, 

 to rear the Three-horned Osmia in my study. 

 The problem on this occasion is a more 

 delicate one; but I am also better-equipped. 

 My apparatus consists of two small, closed 

 packing-cases, with the front side of each 

 pierced with forty holes, in which I can insert 

 my glass tubes and keep them in a horizontal 

 position. I thus obtain for the Bees the dark- 

 ness and mystery which suit their work and 

 for myself the power of withdrawing from 

 my hive, at any time, any tube that I wish, 

 with the Osmia inside, so as to carry it to the 



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