The mechanism by which younger fathers produce, on the average, sons

before daughters, while older fathers do the opposite (Table 2) is obscure. This
mechanism cannot rely only on differential production or only on differential
death of the two sperm types since, for any age of father, the overall proportion
of the two sexes does not change. A balanced combination of meiotic drive and
sperm selection could predict the present results, but this model seems unneces-
sarily complex. Maternal conditions, per se, would not seem a likely explanation
since the mothers were similar to each other for all ages of fathers. Nor does it
seem possible that cultural conditions affecting the larvae or pupae differentially
could easily explain the present results since these were also held constant. This
last point could be checked by using attached-X mothers to reverse the relation
between a sperms sex-chromosomes and the sex of the resulting zygote.

The sex ratio difference between A Broods and Later Broods may be related
to the presence of males with the females during the A Broods only. The com-
monly observed increases in sperm production and mating frequency by pro-
gres;ively older fathers might produce, during the A Broods, varying levels of
competition between X- and Y-bearing sperm in the genital chamber and in the
storage areas of the females. Thus Brood A sex ratios might be expected to differ
from those in Later Broods. Assuming, however, that eggs are only fertilized by
sperm stored in a females large ventral receptacle, competition of sperm for
storage sites should affect the sex ratio similarly in A broods as well as in Later
Broods; once a sperm is stored it can be utilized during any brood. This similarity
between successive broods was, of course, not observed. Nevertheless, the differ-
ence in experimental conditions between A broods and Later Broods should be
eliminated. This can be done by watching for copulations in pair matings, dis-
carding the male, and starting the A Broods with the singly-inseminated females.
This technique has been suggested by G. LEFEVRE (personal communication)
and such experiments are currently underway.