. OF THE ANTENNÆ OF INSECTS. 385 
the occasion of reading my former paper, were those by E. F. Erichson, published at Berlin 
in 1847, and contained in his * Dissertatio de fabricå et usu antennarum in Insectis, in 
which he states that he has arrived at the following laws :— j 
*1. Antennarum testam in insectis nequaquam solidam, sed numerosis poris perfora- 
tam esse. 
* 2. Poros hosce ab interiore parte membraná tenui clausos esse. 
. “8. Poros in variorum insectorum antennis variis modis dispositos esse.” 
He then proceeds to show the position of these closed pores in the various forms of 
antennæ, and that they are never found on the basal joints. He describes the dilated third 
joint in Musca as alone possessing these pores, and considers the seta to be the true con- 
tinuation of the antenna, which view had already been promulgated by Mr. Curtis. He 
also notices the numerous hairs on the antenna, between the pores, which he considers 
to form a protection to them from extraneous bodies. Now these pores he regards as 
organs of smell; because, he remarks, the olfactory organs of the higher animals are moist 
membranes in order that the odorous particles may be dissolved by the humour secreted, 
therefore he doubts not that these membranes perform the same office, protected by the 
downy hairs, and retained moist by them. Another reason for which he considers them 
organs of smell, is that they are more numerous in those tribes whose scent is acute. 
Of this work I was not aware at the time of reading my former paper, it being very 
scarce. The plates accompanying it simply show holes or pores, closed in by a delicate 
membrane. : 
Vogt (Zoologische Briefe, vol.i. p. 516-17, Frankfurt a. M., 1851) says, * If these uniform 
feelers are examined with a sufficiently high magnifying power, the outer surface of all 
the divisions, except the articulating joint, is found to be covered with minute ne 
Which are closed in at the bottom by a thin membrane that appears to be clothed wit 
numerous hairs. In the antennæ that are not of a uniform shape throughout, — 
Shaft or style, and these pores or indentations are then found only upon the too 
Processes, branches, and feathers of the feelers, whilst the integument of the shaft is con- 
i . iar structure of the 
Stituted lik ini rtions of the body. The peculiar ; 
e that of the remaining po one: but it would;be go ing far to 
ante TA ith their func 
nn is, no doubt, closely connected with the able proofs of the correctness of the 
say, wi 1 ds undenia V o 
y» With some recent observers, that it affor " He then says, “We are of opinion 
oft-contested theory that they are organs of smell only. 
ed thi : bining those of smell 
that these minute pores, filled with fine hairs, perform a function com — cef gia 
and touch; for it is an undoubted fact that many insects, such as 
: : ize objects, and that nocturnal 
others, constantly employ their antennæ to touch and "— of touch in the organs ; 
creatures of this class, especially, possess a remarkably acute se å 
Whilst others, again, as re Sr in which these organs are ———Q 
in size and form, make no such use of their feelers. On the bes = em 
ee organs of smell in insects ; and all attempts to find the seat o 
itherto ineffectual.” ; i ctions 
Thus we see how many different opinions have been entertained = rs 
of the antenne. Sulzer, Scarpa, Schneider, Ie cnn a are all in favour 
Straus-Dürckheim, Oken, Burmeister, Kirby and Spence, and Bor 3r 
VOL. XXII. 
