PROPORTION OF THE SEXES. 249 



either from eggs or caterpillars, I have received only the few 



following cases: — 



Males. Females. 



The Rev. J. Hellins'" of Exeter reared, during 1868, 

 images of 73 species, which consisted of 153 137 



Mr. Albert Jones of Bltham reared, during 1868, 

 imagos of 9 species, which consisted of 159 126 



During 1869 he reared imagos from 4 species, con- 

 sisting of 114 112 



Mr. Buckler of Emsworth, Hants, during 1869, 

 reared imagos from 74 species, consisting of 180 169 



Dr. Wallace of Colchester reared from one brood 

 of Bombyx cynthia 52 48 



Dr. Wallace raised, from cocoons of Bombyx Pern- 

 yi sent from China, during 1869 224 123 



Dr. Wallace raised, during 1868 and 1869, from 

 two lots of cocoons of Bombyx yama-mai 52 46 



Total 934 761 



So that in these eight lots of cocoons and eggs, males were pro- 

 duced in excess. Taken together the proportion of males is as 

 122.7 to 100 females. But the numbers are hardly large enough 

 to be trustworthy. 



On the whole, from these various sources of evidence, all point- 

 ing in the same direction, I infer that with most species of Lepi- 

 doptera, the mature males generally exceed the females in num- 

 ber, whatever the proportions may be at their first emergence 

 from the egg. 



With reference to the other Orders of insects, I have been able 

 to collect very little reliable information. With the stag-beetle 

 (Lucanus cervus) "the males appear to be much more numerous 

 "than the females;" but when, as Cornelius remarked during 1867, 

 an unufeual number of these beetles appeared in one part of Ger- 

 many, the females appeared to exceed the males as six to one. 

 With one of the Elateridse, the males are said to be much more 

 numerous than the females, and "two or three are often found 

 "united with one female;" so that here polyandry seems to pre- 

 "vail." With Siagonium (Staphylinidse), in which the males are 



^' This naturalist has been so kind as to send me some results from 

 former years, in which the females seemed to preponderate; but so 

 many of the figures were estimates, that I found it impossible to 

 tabulate them. 



8* Gunther's 'Record of Zoologrieal Literature,' 1S67, p. 260. On the 

 excess of female Lucanus, ibid. p. 250. On the males of Lucanus in 

 Eng-land, Westwood, 'Modern Class, of Insects,' vol. i. p. 187. On the 

 Siagonium, ibid. p. 172. 



