Miscellanea 
103 
Interval 8. 
Ordinary interpolation Line 1, 1 
Line 1, 2 
«ives 
2, 4 
Line 1, 3 
gives 
1, 3 
2, 6 = 2,3 
3, 6 = 3, 2 
Average interval in x = 5'71 
„ „ „ y =13-71 
Maximum interval in :c = 8 
. y =32 
The interval 9 gives quite a good result, certainly better than 8, but considering the fewer 
number of values that would be required 1 1 seems preferable to either, and it is far better than 
the common decimal interval. When the number representing the interval has factors the 
"interpolation-lines" do not give as many values as they do when a prime number is used 
because, owing to the factors, there is repetition. 
6. Conclusions. The conclusions to which these notes lead us would seem to be 
(1) that interpolation can be effected by means of the ordinary one- variable formulae in 
?i-dimension tables ; 
(2) that the method can give reasonably accurate results; 
(3) that if the intervals can be chosen, («) the same interval in all the variables will 
generally be better than diflerent intervals even if the latter are rather smaller, 
and {b) the interval should be given by a prime number. 
II. Note on the Relative Variability of the Sexes in Carabus auratus, L. 
By H. G. KRIBS. 
The majority of biometrical investigations, which have been made regarding the comparative 
variability of the sexes as such, seem to have been confined to the human species*. ]\Iany 
observations have been made among lower organisms however, on the existence and variability 
of secondary sexual characters, or those morphological differentiations, apart from the sexual 
organs per se, by which the male is easily distinguished from the female of the same species. 
The possible significance of secondary sexual characters for evolution was first x'ointed out 
by Darwin t, as suggested by the disproportionate development of these characters in the males 
and females of the same species where sexual dimorphism is present, and 1)y the difference 
in behaviour seemingly correlated with it. The data furnished by Darwin covered a wide 
range in the animal kingdom, and his conclusions have received very general acceptance. 
One conclusion reached by Darwin was that in a bisexual species the female ordinarily 
lies closer to the morphological norm of the species than the male, and that her contribution in 
reproduction is inherently conservative and tends to maintain the organic stability of the norm. 
The male, on the other hand, was thought to vary considerably more about the species, norm. 
[* The relative variability of the sexes has been dealt with in crabs, wasps, toads and a variety 
of other published cases, not hitherto collected together, but all tending in much the same direction as 
in Carabus auratus. Ed.] 
t Descent of Man, Chap. VIIL 
{From the Zoological Lnhoratorij of the University of Pennsylrania.) 
