64 INSECT MISCELLANIES. 



seems very probable ; and the antennas may, in some 

 degree, answer a similar purpose : the circumstance 

 just mentioned furnishes some presumption that they 

 do this, at least in the case of these males ; else 

 why do they exhibit that peculiar structure which 

 distinguishes the real eyes ? 



We are indebted to the elder Huber for several in- 

 genious experiments which appear to bring the diffi- 

 culties of the question within a narrower compass, 

 and render it probable that the organ of smell, in bees 

 at least, is situated in the head. 



' A pencil,' he tells us, ' dipped in oil of turpen- 

 tine, one of the substances most disliked by insects, 

 was presented successively to all parts of the body of 

 a bee, which did not appear in the least affected even 

 when it was brought near the spiracles of the chest. 

 We then took a very fine pencil, that we might try 

 every minute point of the head, and approached it to 

 the antennae, the eyes, and sucker while feeding, but 

 without the least effect. When, however, we put it near 

 the cavity of the mouth, above the insertion of the 

 proboscis, the bee instantly started back, left the honey 

 on which it was feeding, beat its wings with great 

 agitation, and would have taken flight had not the 

 pencil been withdrawn. Having renewed its repast, 

 we again brought the pencil near the mouth as be- 

 fore, when the bee quitted the honey, fixed upon the 

 table, and fanned itself with its wings as if to blow 

 away the turpentine. It appears obvious, therefore, 

 that the organ of smell resides either within the 

 mouth or the parts contiguous. 



' As bees not occupied in feeding appeared more 

 sensible of the odour of turpentine, being aflected 

 with it at a greater distance, but when their sucker 

 was immersed in honey, several parts of the body 

 might be touched by the pencil without annoying 

 them, we inferred that their attention was either ab- 



