630 THE SENSES AXD SENSORY ORGAXS. 



The great majority of insects probably hear sounds. Yet it is 

 the exception to find highly complex organs on the surface of the 

 bod)' \vhich can have the function of hearing ascribed to them. 

 The membranous wings of insects are certainly well adapted 

 to receive the vibrations of the atmosphere, and when we 

 remember that in Fishes the vibrations of sound are not con- 

 ducted to the internal ear by any special mechanism, it appears 

 less improbable that the expanded surface of the wing should 

 act as a recipient of sound vibrations. Will [305] concludes 

 that each species of insect is limited in its responses to a 

 very narrow range of sound perceptions, yet there is a very 

 fine appreciation of minute differences within that range. For 

 example, he is convinced that different species of Lamellicorns 

 recognise their mates by the stridulations they produce, and 

 also that they hear them at a distance at which they are quite 

 incapable of being heard by the human ear ; and he states that 

 whilst they are apparently deaf to all sounds except those 

 which concern them, they at once respond to these if they are 

 sufficiently well imitated by artificial means. 



When we remember the wide range of sounds which different 

 insects produce, although the range of those which affect any 

 one insect may be small, yet dissimilar insects must exhibit very 

 different auditory powers ; and that this is really so is suggested 

 by the very variable character of the auditory apparatus. 

 Crickets appear to be but little excited by any sounds except 

 those natural to the species. The notes of some insects are far 

 more variable than those of others, and suggest a much wider 

 range of auditory perception, and it is in such insects that 

 we might expect the greatest complexity in the auditory 

 mechanism. 



15. THE SENSE OF TASTE AND THE GUSTATORY ORGANS. 



That insects generally possess the sense of taste cannot be 

 doubted, and Will [305] has shown that this sense is some- 

 times very highly developed. He says : ' Of all the insects I 

 experimented upon, a pair of Andrenas had perhaps the most 

 acute sense of taste. They were very fastidious, and, as the 



