of the Antenna of Insects. 271 



those of the female, indeed they occupy, as in Diptera, near- 

 ly the entire sphere of the head. Let us apply this to hear- 

 ing : the male insects are the musicians, the females therefore 

 require the greater developement of auditory instruments. — 

 We cannot doubt that in accordance with the universal law 

 of adapting the instrument to its end, this greater develope- 

 ment has been provided. In vain we look for the required 

 developement in the antenna, for in them it is invariably pos- 

 sessed by the males, not by the females. 



When, in 1832, Mr. Rennie supported the views which Mr. 

 Newport has now revived, I paid some attention to the sub- 

 ject, and made a variety of observations on mute insects, with 

 a view of ascertaining their auditory powers. I could trace 

 no connexion between the auditory faculty, and any particu- 

 lar part of the insect ; neither could I trace any correspon- 

 dence between the extent of the auditory faculty, and the de- 

 velopement of the antenna. I could not discover that the 

 males of Eucera longicornis and Bombyx quercus were at all 

 cognisant of sound ; they evinced no symptoms of hearing 

 even the loudest noises. The common house fly has a quick 

 and acute perception of sound : this is the case with many 

 other Diptera. Let it not however be concluded that the pos- 

 session of the auditory faculty is the necessary consequence 

 or accompaniment of small antenna, and vice versa. This is 

 by no means the case. Cerambyx moschatus certainly com- 

 bines the auditory power with the possession of long anten- 

 na, which however it constantly employs as tactors. In this 

 insect both sexes are gifted with the power of producing 

 sound. The result of a long series of observations was nega- 

 tive, — it established nothing. 



We will now regard the subject in another light. We will 

 suppose that the present enquiry has found the antenna not 

 of the worst, as is the case, but, like other parts of this vast 

 and admirable creation, of the best possible formation for 

 their supposed auditory office. We then suggest this very 

 reasonable enquiry. Why has Providence given to some in- 

 sects this extraordinary preponderance of the auditory facul- 

 ty ? Nothing is created in vain. Every part has its appoint- 

 ed function : the eye sees, the hand grasps, the foot walks : 

 each instrument has neither more nor less power or predomi- 

 nance than it actually requires ; each is precisely adapted to 

 its end, and to that end only. Why then have so large a ma- 

 jority of insects these enormously developed ears ? It is quite 

 certain that hearing is not the main safeguard of an insect's 

 life : experiments have never shewn that an insect, like the 

 hare and the mouse, is warned by sound of the approach of 



Vol. II. — No. 17. n. s. z 



