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The Descent of Man

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developed wings. Audouin believes that the<br />

females <strong>of</strong> this species are impregnated by the<br />

males which are born in the same cells with<br />

them; but it is much more probable that the<br />

females visit other cells, so that close interbreeding<br />

is thus avoided. We shall hereafter<br />

meet in various classes, with a few exceptional<br />

cases, in which the female, instead <strong>of</strong> the male,<br />

is the seeker and wooer.)<br />

<strong>The</strong> female, on the other hand, with the rarest<br />

exceptions, is less eager than the male. As the<br />

illustrious Hunter (20. 'Essays and Observations,'<br />

edited by Owen, vol. i. 1861, p. 194.) long<br />

ago observed, she generally "requires to be<br />

courted;" she is coy, and may <strong>of</strong>ten be seen endeavouring<br />

for a long time to escape from the<br />

male. Every observer <strong>of</strong> the habits <strong>of</strong> animals<br />

will be able to call to mind instances <strong>of</strong> this<br />

kind. It is shewn by various facts, given hereafter,<br />

and by the results fairly attributable to<br />

sexual selection, that the female, though com-

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