Permutations of Sex 



or else a natural retreat that admits of little 

 or no alteration, she lays either a male egg 

 or a female egg as she pleases. The distribu- 

 tion of the sexes depends upon herself. Should 

 circumstances require it, the order of the lay- 

 ing can be reversed and begin with males; 

 lastly, the entire laying can contain only one 

 sex. 



The same privilege is possessed by the pre- 

 datory Hymenoptera, the Wasps, at least by 

 those in whom the two sexes are of a different 

 size and consequently require an amount of 

 nourishment that is larger in the one case than 

 in the other. The mother must know the sex 

 of the egg which she is going to lay; she must 

 be able to choose the sex of that egg so that 

 each larva may obtain its proper portion of 

 food. 



Generally speaking, when the sexes are of 

 different sizes, every insect that collects food 

 and prepares or selects a dwelling for its off- 

 spring must be able to choose the sex of the 

 egg in order to satisfy without mistake the 

 conditions imposed upon it. 



The question remains how this optional as- 

 sessment of the sexes is effected. I know abso- 

 lutely nothing about it. If I should ever learn 



i8i 



