18.01.2013 Views

The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

The Descent of Man

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Sexual selection, which implies the possession<br />

<strong>of</strong> considerable perceptive powers and <strong>of</strong><br />

strong passions, seems to have been more effective<br />

with the Lamellicorns than with any other<br />

family <strong>of</strong> beetles. With some species the males<br />

are provided with weapons for fighting; some<br />

live in pairs and shew mutual affection; many<br />

have the power <strong>of</strong> stridulating when excited;<br />

many are furnished with the most extraordinary<br />

horns, apparently for the sake <strong>of</strong> ornament;<br />

and some, which are diurnal in their habits, are<br />

gorgeously coloured. Lastly, several <strong>of</strong> the largest<br />

beetles in the world belong to this family,<br />

which was placed by Linnaeus and Fabricius as<br />

the head <strong>of</strong> the Order. (72. Westwood, 'Modern<br />

Classification,' vol. i. p. 184.)<br />

STRIDULATING ORGANS.<br />

Beetles belonging to many and widely distinct<br />

families possess these organs. <strong>The</strong> sound thus<br />

produced can sometimes be heard at the dis-

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!