24 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



When I ceased making the noises the insect again reposed, 

 but on my resuming it jumped off the board and ran away. 

 The creature appeared alarmed at the sounds. The palpi 

 were spread out whilst it was listening, and the antennae 

 moved up and down. 11.40 a.m. : Placed insect in a cage, 

 also suspended, and allowed her to settle down. Eepeated 

 the loud jarring sounds. The insect started, and then 

 squeezed itself into a corner of the cage as though in great 

 fear. After this it took no further notice although sounds 

 were continued for about half a minute. Five minutes later 

 I repeated the sounds, but no notice was taken of them, 

 and 1 think that the insect was asleep, as in the first instance. 

 11.50: Again repeated sounds, very loudly this time. The 

 insect trembled and moved its antennas, but five flies perched 

 on the string supporting the cage took no notice. The female 

 D. megacephala appears to only regard the very discordant 

 sounds made with the kerosene-tin and poker. It does not 

 appear to hear the piano at all. 12 noon : Eepeated, with 

 same result ; insect started, put out palpi, and moved 

 antennas. Feel sure that when she does not hear she is 

 asleep. 



The following experiments are related by Lord Avebury : 

 " Kirby states that ' once a little moth was reposing upon my 

 window. I made a quiet, not loud but distinct, noise. The 

 antenna nearest to me immediately moved towards me. I 

 repeated the noise at least a dozen times, and it was followed 

 every time by the same motion of that organ, till at length 

 the insect, being alarmed, became more agitated and violent 

 in its motions.' And again, ' I was once observing the 

 motions of an Apion (a small weevil) under a pocket micro- 

 scope. On seeing me it receded. Upon my making a slight 

 but distinct noise its antennae started. I repeated the noise 

 several times, and invariably with the same effect.' " 



Will has made some interesting observations on some of 

 the Longicorn beetles which appear to confirm the view that 

 the antennas are the organs of hearing. These insects pro- 

 duce a low shrill sound by rubbing together the prothorax 

 and the mesothorax. The posterior edge of the prothorax 

 bears a toothed ridge and the anterior end of the mesothorax 

 a roughened surface, and when these are rubbed together a 

 sound is produced something like that made by rubbing a 

 quill on a fine file. Will took a pair of Gerambyx (beetles), 

 and put the female in a box and the male on a table at a dis- 

 tance of about 4 in. They were at first a little restless, but 

 are naturally calm insects, and soon became quiet, resting as 

 usual with the antennas half extended. The male evidently 

 was not conscious of the presence of the female. Will then 

 touched the female with a long needle and she began to 



