394 
ANTENNAE OF INSECTS. 
Cricket above 100), and are very flexible. This flexibility 
enables them to be turned towards any object under examina¬ 
tion by the Insect; and when the animal is walking, we see 
them constantly being applied to the surfaces of the bodies 
which it approaches, in a manner which leaves little doubt 
that they are used as organs of touch. It is no objection to 
this view, to say that, as their surfaces are hard, no delicate 
sensations can be received through them; for the slightest 
Fig. 199. —Variously-formed Antennje of Insects. 
contact of their firmest points with a hard substance, may 
produce a sense of resistance which will afford to the animal 
the information which it requires. The stick used by the 
blind man in feeling his way, serves a very similar purpose. 
•—It appears to be by sensations received through their 
antennae, that Bees and other Insects which naturally work 
in the dark, are enabled to carry-on their labours without 
confusion or inaccuracy; and to be by the same means, that 
they communicate with each other. When the antennae are 
cut off, the Bee at once ceases to work, and seems unable to 
direct its movements in any other way than towards the light. 
When any important event has happened in a community, 
such as the loss of the Queen, the spreading of the intelligence 
through the whole hive may be watched by a close observer. 
The working bees which were near her are observed to run 
about restlessly, applying their antennae to those of the others 
they may meet, crossing them and striking lightly with them; 
these in their turn become agitated and do the same; and 
thus the intelligence is speedily propagated throughout the 
hive. In the same manner, when two bees meet each other 
out of their hives, they seem to reconnoitre one another for 
some time by the movements of their antennae; and often 
