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The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

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African genus belonging to the same family, we<br />

meet with a new and remarkable modification;<br />

in the males a small notched ridge projects<br />

obliquely from each side <strong>of</strong> the abdomen,<br />

against which the hind femora are rubbed. (42.<br />

Westwood, 'Modern Classification,' vol i. p.<br />

462.) As the male is furnished with wings (the<br />

female being wingless), it is remarkable that the<br />

thighs are not rubbed in the usual manner<br />

against the wing-covers; but this may perhaps<br />

be accounted for by the unusually small size <strong>of</strong><br />

the hind-legs. I have not been able to examine<br />

the inner surface <strong>of</strong> the thighs, which, judging<br />

from analogy, would be finely serrated. <strong>The</strong><br />

species <strong>of</strong> Pneumora have been more pr<strong>of</strong>oundly<br />

modified for the sake <strong>of</strong> stridulation than<br />

any other orthopterous insect; for in the male<br />

the whole body has been converted into a musical<br />

instrument, being distended with air, like<br />

a great pellucid bladder, so as to increase the<br />

resonance. Mr. Trimen informs me that at the

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