HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSIP. 



31 



organs of smell was that they are most numerous in 

 those tribes of insects whose scent is acute. Vogt 

 pointed out in 1S51 that " if the uniform antennas 

 are examined with a sufficiently high power, the 

 outer surface of all the divisions, except the articu- 

 lating joint, is found to be covered with minute 

 punctures, which are closed in at the bottom by a 

 thin membrane that appears to be clothed with 

 numerous hairs. In the antennas that are not of 

 uniform shape throughout, there is a shaft or style, 

 and these indentations are then found only upon the 

 toothed branches, processes, and feathers of the 

 antennae, whilst the integument of the shaft is like 

 that of the remaining portions of the body." He 

 further says of them, "We are of opinion that these 

 minute pores, filled with fine hairs, perform a func- 

 tion combining those of smell and touch. Now 

 Dr. Hicks, iu two papers read before the 

 Linnsean Society in 1S57 and 1S59, and published 

 in the 22nd vol. of ' The Transactions of the Linnocan 

 Society,' pointed out that on the whole surface of 

 the third joint of the antennae of the blow-fly are a 

 multitude of transparent dots, apparently vesicles, 

 which on closer examination are found to be cavities 

 in the wall of .the antennae, filled with fluid, closed 

 in from the outer air by a very thin membrane, and 

 that each little sac is connected with the nervous 

 system by a distinct nerve." There are 17,000 of 

 these perforations on the surface of each antenna 

 in the blow-fly. Besides these, there are about 

 eighty larger sacculated chambers irregularly dis- 

 persed, 'and connected with the nervous ganglia. 

 He points out the existence of similar organs in the 

 antennae of the difi'erent tribes of insects, and comes 

 to the conclusion that they are organs of hearing, 

 because—" 1st, they consist of a cell, sac, or cavity 

 filled with fluid, closed in from the air by a mem- 

 brane analogous to that which closes the foramen 

 ovale in the higher animals ; 2nd, that this membrane 

 is for the most part thin and delicate, but often 

 projects above the surface, in either a hemispherical, 

 conical, or canoe-shaped, or even hair-like form, 

 often variously marked ; 3rd, that the antennal 

 nerve gives off branches which come in contact with 

 the inner wall of the sacs ; but whether the nerve 

 enters or ends in the small internally projecting 

 papilla is very difficult to say. Dr. Hicks considered 

 it impossible that the essential nature of an olfactory 

 organ could be included in such structures, or that 

 odorous particles could pass, first through a mem- 

 brane, sometimes even spinous, then through a 

 cavity filled with fluid, and thirdly through another 

 membrane to reach the extremity of a nerve, but 

 that they were well suited to the transmission of 

 sound. Notwithstanding the conclusions of Dr. 

 Hicks, we cannot help thinking that one of the 

 functions of the antennas is that of smell. In those 

 moths which exhibit "sembling," that is, the attract- 

 ing the males by the female from long distances, 



not only the shape of the antennae in the sexes 

 differs in a marked degree, but the pectination in 

 the males is very deep, and the number of hairs is 

 many times greater than in the female, while the 

 organs pointed out by Dr. Hicks are more numerous. 

 This is a good time of year for such members as may 

 feel an interest in the subject to investigate the 

 matter for themselves, and we would advise that 

 not only the method of bleaching recommended for 

 rendering the antennae more transparent be adopted, 

 but that sections similar to those so admirably made 

 by Dr. Halifax be tried, and so some further light 

 may be thrown, either way, on these organs, though 

 the question whether they be coiifined to one sense, 

 or whether they perform the office at times assigned 

 to them of common sensation, may not be made out 

 to demonstration. The process recommended for 

 bleaching by Dr. Hicks is one drachm chlorate of 

 potash, one drachm and a half water ; mix in a 

 small wide-mouth bottle holding about an ounce ; 

 after five minutes add 1-1- drachm of strong hydro- 

 chloric acid. In this mixture place antennae, and let 

 them remain from a few hours to a week, according 

 to their nature. 



THE GOLD-CRESTED WREN.] 

 By ^y. H. Warner. 



SHELTERING one side of the house is a row 

 of the tall, graceful, and swaying spruce-firs 

 {Abies excelsa), and here, at various times of the 

 year, but especially in spring and summer, may be 

 seen a pair or more of those extremely beautiful 

 little birds the Golden-crested Wrens {Recjulus oris- 

 tatus), the humming-bird of the British isles. This 

 tiny bird is about three inches and a half in length, 

 with plumage of an olive-green, and a pale yellow 

 crown, bordered with black at the top of the head. 

 In the male bird a dash of orange enriches his golden 

 crown, giving him a still further claim to the title of 

 Regulus — a king. 



You may see the tiny Gold-crest in the most 

 lonely woods, as well as near houses, but always 

 among trees of the fir tribe, for which it has an 

 especial predilection. And here it hunts for minute 

 insects the livelong day with the greatest industry, 

 disporting itself in all manner of positions. It flutters 

 like a butterfly from bough to bough, peers with its 

 bright eye into every cranny and crevice, hangs 

 head downwards like the restless tits, and is gene- 

 rally so absorbed in its busy search, that it will 

 allow the spectator to approach quite close with- 

 out its testifying the slightest alarm. So fearless 

 too is its disposition, thut I have several times 

 approached within arm's length of it. During the 

 severe weather which ushered in the year 1871, 

 a little Gold-crest came to receive our bounty, and 

 on one occasion flutt^^"®J down to my feet with the 



