STATES OF INSECTS. 313 



of the occiput or hind-head ; and in O. Oryx F. the two 

 horns proceed from the anterior part of the head. In 

 the other sex, in insects the head of whose males is armed 

 with horns, they are usually replaced by mere tubercles, 

 or very short elevations, as you may see in the female of 

 Copris lunaris; or by transverse ridges, as in the Ontho- 

 phagi: or else the head is without arms, and quite smooth, 

 as in Diape? , is, Phaleria, &c. What may be the use of 

 these extraordinary appendages, as well as those on the 

 thorax, and in some cases on the abdomen, (which I shall 

 mention afterwards), to the males, has not yet been ascer- 

 tained. Whether the individuals of this sex are more 

 exposed to the attack of birds and other enemies, in con- 

 sequence of being more on the wing than the females, 

 and are therefore thus provided with numerous project- 

 ing points for defence, is a question worth considering a . 

 It is the only probable conjecture on the cui bono of these 

 arms that I can at present make. Under this head I 

 ought to notice the remarkable membranous process of 

 an obovate shape, which like an umbrella covers the 

 head of Acheta umbraculata F. b Whether the sharp 

 curved horns which arm this part in another Acheta 

 figured by Stoll c , in an incumbent posture, with their 

 point towards the mouth, are a sexual distinction, we are 

 not informed, — probably they are. 



The organs of the head also present many sexual di- 



« See above, Vol. II. 224—. 



b Coquebert Illustr. Icon. hi. t. xxi./. 2. 



c Stoll Cigales, t. xviilf. a b c. Grillons t.iv. /. 16 — 18. This sin- 

 gular animal, which was found by Mr. Patterson at the Cape of 

 Good Hope, is stated to be an aquatic; and affords the only known 

 instance of an Orthoptervus insect inhabiting the waters. The GryL 

 lotalpa loves the vicinity of water. 



