18 



CALIFORNIA STATE COMMISSION OF HORTICULTURE. 



have shoAvn that in some cases they are organs of smell. In fact, 

 they may be any or all of these, or, as has been suggested, they may 

 be the organs of a sense in insects of which we have no knowledge. 

 Practically, there is but one sense, that of feeling. What we know as 

 sight, hearing, taste, and smell are but different forms of feeling, and 

 are caused by vibrations which convey to our special organs certain 



FIG. 16. Various rms of antennae. A, filiform, Eunchiiitas; B, setaceous, Platemis; 

 C, monlliform, C'aio.gettMs; D, geniculate, Bombus; /, flagellum; p, pedicel; s, scape; 

 E, irregular, Phormia; a, arista; F, setaceous, Galerila; G, clavate, Anosia; H, pecti- 

 nate, male, PHlodactijla: I, lamellate, Lachnosterna; J, capitate, ^^egalodacne ; 

 K, irregular, Dineiitus. 



sensations, which we designate by different names, but which depend 

 for their reception upon the sensory nerves, and we therefore feel sound, 

 color, flavor, and odors. The antennae of insects are especially adapted 

 to receive and convey the various forms of vibration, and it is not im- 

 probable that they may serve the purposes for which several organs are 

 required in the higher forms of life. Let this be as it may, it is certain 

 that the antenna3 of insects are among the most important of their 

 organs. They may be used also for the conveyance of information, as 

 we know that ants and other insects on meeting will communicate to 

 each other by means of their antenna?, and we know also that many 

 insects, especially social insects, have the means of conveying informa- 

 tion to each other. 



