384 NOISES OF INSECTS. 



gigantea, L.)? which abounds in old timber houses in 

 the warmer parts of the world, make^ a noise when the 

 the family are asleep like a pretty smart rapping- with 

 the knuckles — three or four sometimes appearing to 

 answer each other — On this account in the West In- 

 dies it is called the Drummer ; and they sometimes 

 beat such a reveille, that only good sleepers can rest 

 for them*. As the animals of this genus generally 

 come forth in the night for the purpose of feeding, this 

 noise is probably connected with that subject. 



Insects also, at least many of the social ones, emit 

 peculiar noises while engaged in their various employ- 

 ments. If an ear be applied to a wasps or humble- 

 bees nest, or a bee-hive, a hum more or less intense 

 may always be perceived. Were I disposed to play ' 

 upon your credulity, I might tell you, with Gosdart, 

 that in every humble-bees nest there is a trumpeter, 

 who early in the morning, ascending to its summit, vi- 

 brates his wings, and sounding his trumpet for the 

 space of a quarter of an hour, rouses the inhabitants to 

 work ! But since Reaumur could never witness this, 

 I shall not insist upon your believing it, though the 

 relator declares that he had heard it with his ears, and 

 seen it with his eyes, and had called many to witness 

 the vibrating and strepent wings of this trumpeter 

 humble-bee^. — The blue sand- wasp {AmmopMla cya- 

 nea),, which at all other times is silent, when engaged 

 in building its cells emits a singular but pleasing sound, 

 which may be heard at ten or twelve yards distance •=. 



Some insects also are remarkable for a peculiar mode 



* Unity's Insects, Hi, Prpfare. " Lister's Gcedart, 244 — . Com- 



iniip Rratim. vi. .30. * Bingley, ^niraai ^ieg'.'-. iii. 1st Ed. 335. 



