1824) in the "Descent of Man" (1901), page 620.) A gamekeeper told me
yesterday of analogous case. This perplexes me much. Are there many
unmarried birds? I can hardly believe it. Or will one of a pair, of which
the nest has been robbed, or which are barren, always desert his or her
mate for a strange mate with the attraction of a nest, and in one instance
with young birds in the nest? The gamekeeper said during breeding season
he had never observed a single or unpaired partridge. How can the sexes be
so equally matched?

P.S. 2nd.--I fear you will find me a great bore, but I will be as
reasonable as can be expected in plundering one so rich as you.

P.S. 3rd.--I have just received a letter from Dr. Wallace (434/2. See
"Descent of Man," Edition I., Volume I., pages 386-401, where Dr. Wallace's
observations are quoted.), of Colchester, about the proportional numbers of
the two sexes in Bombyx; and in this note, apropos to an incidental remark
of mine, he stoutly maintains that female lepidoptera never notice the
colours or appearance of the male, but always receive the first male which
comes; and this appears very probable. He says he has often seen fine
females receive old battered and pale-tinted males. I shall have to admit
this very great objection to sexual selection in insects. His observations
no doubt apply to English lepidoptera, in most of which the sexes are
alike. The brimstone or orange-tip would be good to observe in this
respect, but it is hopelessly difficult. I think I have often seen several
males following one female; and what decides which male shall succeed? How
is this about several males; is it not so?


LETTER 435. TO J. JENNER WEIR.
6, Queen Anne Street, Cavendish Square, W. [March 6th, 1868].