548 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



comparatively large hairs at their outer edges, and the first 

 or basal joints are smooth like the second ones. By a parity 

 of reasoning this would seem to indicate that the terminal 

 joints are purely sensitive organs of touch. The large hairy 

 bristles spring from just within the margin of the flat sides of 

 the terminal joints of the antennae, and around the base of 

 each bristle there is a transparent ring of horny substance, 

 while all the rest of the structure is black and opaque ; each 

 of the very minute hairs of the terminal joint has a similar 

 very minute transparent circle. The small hairs on the single 

 long bristle on each terminal joint are all projected outward 

 and upward. These long bristle-like organs are probably 

 ordinary feelers, while the delicate hairs of the terminal joints 

 of the antennae are discriminative organs of touch. As to the 

 terminal joints being auricular organs I can see no evidence 

 whatever of their performing such a function, as there are no 

 orifices of any sort on any part of them, while the delicate 

 organs of touch completely cover their surfaces. — J. S. 

 Bowerhank. 



[It having been on several occasions suggested that the 

 antennae of insects were auditory organs, I examined the very 

 conspicuous antennze of the common drone-fly (Eristalis 

 tenax), with the kind assistance of Mr. Henry Deaoe. Nothing 

 definite resulted from the investigation, but I found during 

 the examination so much to excite admiration and doubt that 

 I decided on appealing to Dr. Bowerbank for his opinion, and 

 with his invariable courtesy and kindness he has sent the 

 preceding note. — Edward Newman.^ 



Aphides and Honeydew (Entom. vi. 463, 502). — Nearly a 

 century ago the Abbe Boissier de Sauvages stated that he had 

 observed two kinds of honeydew, one of which he considered 

 to be an exudation from the leaves of ])lants, and the second 

 to owe its origin to Aphides. I am strongly inclined to the 

 Abbe's opinion, which is partly confirmed by Dr. Hooker's 

 observations. Mr. Walker suggests that the specks on the 

 leaves of the limes might have been caused by the flowers ; 

 but when Dr. Hooker began his observations the limes could 

 not have been in bloom. The presence of Aphides on currant- 

 trees soon attracts attention from the blisters on the terminal 

 leaves of the shoots, which are al\\ays first attacked by these 

 insects. Several currant-trees were trained against a wall in 



