Studies on Pedicutus 
018 
first pair of legs, seized the female’s third pair of legs at the bases of 
the femurs. He then curved his back so that it became concave and 
closely applied to the body of the female. The female was thereby tilted 
into a vertical position with her abdomen curving away from the male. 
This led to the extraordinary position of attack depicted in Text-fig. 10, 
wherein the female stands as on a tripod consisting of her head and the 
claws of her forefeet which latter cling to the substratum and prevent 
Fis;. 10. Pediculus humanus. Commencement of copulation, the female stands tripod- 
wise upon her buccal region and fi^st pair of legs, entirely supporting the weight of 
the male who grasps her third leg-pair at the base with the claws of his first pair of 
legs, bends backward and inserts the point of his dilator into the vaginal orifice. 
her performing a somersault. The male’s whole weight is now supported 
by the female. The male maintains himself in position solely by his 
grip on the female’s legs and by the shght support afforded from leaning 
backward against the slanting surface of the female’s abdomen. During 
this time the male’s head and antennae appear as if stroking the ventral 
surface of the female’s thorax. The male, having extruded the point 
of the dilator and flexed that structure upon the basal plate (as in Text- 
fig. 5), protrudes and retracts it rapidly, but fitfully whilst seeking to 
