SENSES OF INSECTS. 251 
teristic of the male insect* : but if we examine such an- 
tennas, we shall find that their most sensitive parts can- 
not come in contact with the earth or other bodies for 
exploring their way; but having thus a greater surface 
exposed to the action of the atmosphere, they have more 
points to receive vibrations, or any pulses or other notices 
communicated to it. It is thus, probably, that in their 
flights, when they approach within a certain distance, 
they discover the station of the other sex. Even the 
plumose antennas of male gnats may in some respects 
thus be acted upon. In the Lamellicorn beetles, the 
knob of these organs in both sexes consists of laminas, 
the external ones on their outside, of a corneous sub- 
stance; while their internal surface, and the inner laminae 
— which are included between them, as an oyster between 
the valves of its shell — are covered with nervous papillae. 
If you examine the proceedings of one of these little 
animals, you will find before it moves from a state of 
repose that its antennas emerge, and the laminae diverge 
from each other; but that it does not apply them to sur- 
faces to explore its way, but merely keeps them open to 
receive notices from the atmosphere. Even simple an- 
tennas are often employed in this way, as well as for 
touch. I once noticed a species of Lcptocerus, a tricho- 
pterous genus, in which these organs are very long, that 
was perched upon a blade of grass; its antennas vibrated, 
and it kept moving them from side to side in the air, as 
if thus by ae'roscepsy it was inquiring what was passing 
around it. Dr. Wollaston has an observation bearing so 
a Vol. III. p. 319—. 
