220 ON IXSECT -SOUNDS. 



produced, by means of which animals determine those of their own 

 species to certain actions, merit the name of voice, then I will 

 grant that insects have a voice. But decide this question as we 

 will, we all know that by some means or other, at certain seasons, 

 and in various occasions^, these little creatures make a great din in 

 the world." 



''In discussing this subject," adds the author whom I quote, "I 

 shall consider the noises insects emit during their motions, when 

 they are feeding or otherwise employed, when they are calling or 

 commanding, or when they are under the influence of the passions, 

 of fear, of anger, of sorrow, joy, or love." 



Before I enlarge upon this text, let me point out that the 

 uncertain sound which our author himself gives betrays an 

 ambio-uity of physiological definition of which Aristotle can scarcely 

 be accused. With regard to the voices of animals, says the 

 great naturalist, the case stands thus. — *' Voice and tone are 

 "different things, and again, speech differs from both. No 

 '' animal gives voice with any other organ than the larynx, therefore 

 "all animals which have no lungs have no voice. But speech is 

 " voice articulated by means of the tongue 3 the laryngeal voice 

 " produces only vowel sounds : the tongue and lips produce 

 " consonants. Speech is the combination of both, and man alone 

 " speaks. Therefore no animals speak which have no truly mobile 

 " tongue, although they can produce sounds with other parts of 

 ''their bodies.'' 



Aristotle then proceeds to explain the production of sounds in 

 various insects, and it is interesting to find that he distinctly 

 ascribes the sound of the grasshopper to friction of the " springing 

 legs." But as the respiratory tracheal system of the insect was 

 then, and long after then, unknown, Aristotle supposed that insects 

 did not breathe air in and out of their bodies, and explained the 

 humming and buzzing noises as an internal rush of air to and fro 

 through the narrow constricted part of the body between the thorax 

 and abdomen. This action he illustrates by comparing it with the 



