COURTSHIP AND MATING OF INSECTS 163 
without any sign from the female, one of the males pairs with her 
and all the others immediately disappear. In these cases the 
males do not fight or struggle in any way, and as one watches 
the ceremony the wonder arises as to how the moment is deter- 
mined, and why the pairing did not take place before. All the 
males are evidently most eager to pair, and yet when pairing takes 
place no opposition is offered by the other males to the successful 
suitor. Proximity does not decide the point, for long beforehand 
Fig. 1118.—“‘ Assembling” of Oak Eggar Moths (Laszocampa quercus). The female is the large pale moth, 
with simple antennz, at the top of the cut. 
the males often alight close to the female, and brush against her 
with fluttering wings. In watching this wonderful and compli- 
cated courtship one is driven to the conclusion that the female 
must signify her intention in some way unknown to us, and that 
it is a point of honour with the males to abide by her decision. 
I have watched the process exactly as I have described it in a 
common northern Noctua, the Antler Moth (Charazas graminis), 
and I have seen the same thing among beetles. The fact is well 
known to entomologists, and, as far as the evidence goes, it 
supports Darwin’s theory.” 
Tue Finpine or Mates.—As implied in the preceding para- 
