ON INSECT SOUNDS. 221 



plaything which boys construct out of a reed pipe pierced by a hole, 

 over which a membrane has been fastened, so that when blown 

 into a musical buzz is produced. 



Returning now to the paragraph above quoted, the propositions 

 therein contained seem to indicate that the insect is voiceless, 

 because it emits no sound by the mouth ; but that, in so far as the 

 sounds produced are understood and acted upon, the insect's claim 

 to voice as a means of intercommunication (which implies hearing 

 and understanding) must be granted. However plausible such an 

 explanation may appear as a popular account of the matter, I 

 believe the author to be in error on both points. 



In the hrst place, his physiological definition of voice (viz., 

 *' sound produced by air expelled from the lung and passing 

 through the larynx/') is obviously founded upon the vertebrate type 

 of voice-organ. Now the insect, though not possessed of a lung> 

 is provided with an inlinitely more perfect respiratory organ than 

 any of the lower Vertehraia, beside which it has many mouths for 

 passage of air into and out of the body through tracheal tubes, and 

 in some of these a laryngeal membrane is so arranged as to be 

 thrown into vibrations which produce sound. If, therefore, the 

 insect has no voice, it is not because of any essential difference 

 from the vertebrate type of voice-organ. On the other hand no 

 single vertebrate animal — excepting man — can spealc, although 

 instrumentally as capable as man himself of the inovements by 

 which articulation is effected [e.g. the parrot). 



Our author has indeed added to his physiological definition other 

 conditions which are 7iot essential to voice, unless thereby be meant 

 articulate speech, viz., modification by the tongue, and emission by 

 the mouth. Yet the larger animals use their mouths for utterance, 

 and, in fact, do utter distinct vocal sounds, and even modulate 

 these sounds, (the song of birds !) but are as guiltless of speech as 

 the insect- 



In the second place he grants the claim of insects to voice, 

 (in the sense of speech, that is, of sound which communicates idea). 



