| OCR Text |
Show 590 MESSRS. BATESON AND BRINDLEY ON [Nov. 15, also in other ways large individuals, while the males with small horns are small individuals. But though there is some correlation between absolute size and the degree to which the horns are developed, our measurements have shown that this correlation is not perfect. It is of course clear that the ratio of length of the horns to that of the body is greater in the high males than in the low. Baron von Hiigel gave us some interesting particulars as to the natural history of these beetles. They were collected in the height of the breeding-season, perhaps the greater number being found coupled. It was noticed that large males were often attached to Fig- 3. Diagrams of Xylotrupes gideon, 3> seen from side. Legs not shown. I. High male. II. Medium male. III. Low male. T.h., thoracic horn ; Cp.h., cephalic horn. small females and the reverse, but there appeared to be no regularity in this. In view of the circumstance that there are scarcely any observations as to the functions of the horns of beetles, the following statements of Baron von Hiigel are especially noteworthy. He says that the animals were caught by himself and by natives, and were tied up with pieces of bast. When they were brought home and untied, the males immediately sought out the females, and seizing them transversely, carried them about, held between the two horns, with evident satisfaction. He tells us that this was observed again and again, and was clearly a definite habit. The males with small horns, though unable to lift the females, nevertheless made ludicrous efforts to do so. In answer to the question whether it was observed that these small males did not succeed in obtaining females |
