62 INSECT MISCELLANIES. 



other hand, whose scent is very deUcate, are furnished 

 with no less than two pairs of antennge.* It is ob- 

 vious, however, that all this is pure conjecture, un- 

 supported by any sort of proof, direct or analogical. 

 It is probable that M, De Blainville was influenced 

 to adopt these opinions from the high authority of 

 Latreille, whose reasoning on the subject it may be 

 worth while to quote. ' The exercise of smell, ' he 

 says, ' consists only in the action of air impregnated 

 with odoriferous particles, on the nervous or olfactory 

 membrane, which transmits the sensation. If in- 

 sects be endowed with an organ furnished with 

 similar nerves, and with which air charged with 

 odoriferous particles comes in contact, such an organ 

 may be regarded as that of smell. Should the an- 

 tennae present a tissue of many nerves, vAvat incon^ 

 venience can result from supposing that this tissue 

 is capable of transmitting odour } Would not this 

 hypothesis, on the contrary, be more simple and more 

 consonant to anatomical principles, than that which 

 fixes the seat of smell at the entrance of the stigmata .'' 

 Besides, this last mode of explanation will not, I 

 presume, suit the crustaceous animals, which so 

 nearly approach to insects. INIany male insects have 

 their antennae more developed than the females ; a 

 fact easily explained, if we admit that these organs 

 are the seat of smell. It is certain that most of 

 those insects which live or deposit their eggs on 

 putrid animals, or vegetable matters, stagnant waters, 

 or any substance, in short, which for a time affects 

 peculiar localities, are almost uniformly distinguished 

 by a greater development of the antennze. Such for 

 example are the Scarabaeus, Dermestes, Silpha, Cle- 

 rus, Tenebrio, Tipula, Bibio, &.c. These require a 

 more perfect sense of smell, and are organized ac- 

 cordingly. A great many insects which are entirely 



* De 1 'Organisation des Animaux, vol. i ; Paris, 1823. 



