328 



'SYCNE. 



[July— Seplembcr 1SS5. 



In regard to the- prognostications of 

 weather bv insects, the following passages 

 from Kirbv & Spcnce's "Introduction to en- 

 loniologv" may be added : — 



"Huber savs that he has ascertained by a 

 great number of observations that electricity 

 is singularly favourable to llie secretion of the 

 substance of which honey is formed by flow- 

 ers; the bees never collect it in greater abun- 

 dance, nor is the formation of wax ever more 

 active, than when the wind is in the south, 

 the air humid and warm, and a storm gatlier- 

 ing."— V. 4, p. 141. 



■'But besides receiving notices from the 

 atmosphere, of sounds, and of the approach 

 or proximity of other insects, &c., the anten- 

 nae are probably the organs by which insects 

 can discover alterations in its state, and fore- 

 tel bv certain prognostics when a change of 

 weather is approaching. Bees possess this 

 faculty to an admirable degree. When en- 

 gaged in their daily labours, if a shower is 

 approaching, though we can discern no 

 signs of it, they foresee it. and retm-n sudden- 

 Iv to their hives. If they wander far tVoni 

 home, and do not return till late in the even- 

 ing, it is a prognostic to be depended u|)on, 

 that the following day will be fine: but if 

 thev remain near their habitations, and are 

 seen frequently going and returning, al- 

 though no other indication of wet should be 

 discoverable, clouds will soon arise and rain 

 come on. Ants also are observed to be 

 excellently gifted in this respect: though 

 thev daily bring out their larvae to sun them, 

 thev are never overtaken by sudden show- 

 ers.* Previously to rain, as you well know, 

 numberless insects seek the house ; then the 

 S/omoxys cd/ci'/iaiis. leaving more ignoble 

 prey, attacks us in our apartments, and inter- 

 rupts our studies and meditations. t The 



• Lel)ni;inn, M. C. G. De niilennis inscceormii. 

 Disscrtittic) posterior . . . , iSoo, p. 6.1 - . 



t K. Si S., V. 1, p. 4$, no. 



X Sec, for further urguineiUS, Leluiiiuin, iit't srt/fr., 

 tap. 9. 



insects of prey also foresee the approach of 

 wet weather, and the access of flies, &c. , to 

 places of shelter. Then the spiders issue 

 from their lurking-places, and the ground- 

 beetles in the evening run about our houses. 

 Passive antenna:, which are usually fur- 

 nished with a terminal or lateral bristle, and 

 plumose and pectinated ones, seem calculated 

 for the action of the electric and other fluids- 

 dispersed in the atmosphere, which in certain 

 states and proportions may certainly indicate 

 the approach of a tempest, or of showers, or 

 a rainy season, and may so afltct these 

 organs as to enable the insect to make a sure 

 prognostic of any approaching change : and 

 we know of no other organ that is so likely 

 to have this power. I say electric fluid, 

 because when the atmosphere is in a highly 

 electrified state, and a tempest is approach- 

 ing, is the time when insects are usually 

 most abundant in the air. especially towards 

 the evening: and many species may then 

 be taken, which are not at other times to be 

 met with : but before the storm conies on. all 

 disappear, and you will scarcely see a single 

 individual upon the wing. This seems to 

 indicate that insects are particularlv excited 

 by electricity. — But upon this head I wish to 

 make no positive assertion, I only suggest 

 the probability of the opinion. |" — v. 4. p. 



Dr. 11. .\. Ilagcn, in \\\> Bibliotheca ento- 

 mologica [Rec, 3306J. cites the following 

 papers on this subject: — 



*VoRZF-icnEN der wiilerung an einigen 

 insecten. (Neues Wittenh. wocheublalt. 

 iSio, p. 226-:jS.) 



Stuobkl. Pellegrino. Saggio di osserva- 

 zioni fenologielie relative at cimici delPagro 

 pavese e studii mi la flora de essi prediletla. 

 (Atti Soc. ital. sci. nat.. 1S61. v. ^. p. iSi.. 

 [not seen.] 



Nos. 1^51.134 were issued 25 N<»\ . iS^'o, 

 Nos. lo_;.lo4 were issucil 11 hin. iS-iy. 



