234 
Mr. G. Newport on the 
Hence it seems probable that-, judging from analogy with other 
animals, and also from the anatomy of the antennae, that these 
are not the organs of smell. But let us now proceed to experi- 
ments and further observations. 
The carrion beetles, Sylphce, L., and other insects that subsist 
upon fetid substances, appear to be the kinds most fitted for our 
purpose, as being those in which a strong sense of smell is clearly 
evinced, and which at the same time have the antennae consider- 
ably developed. Accordingly to these my attention on the subject 
has been chiefly directed. 
During an entomological excursion I met with a female speci- 
men of Sylpha obscura, L., that had by some chance been deprived 
of one of its antennae. The insect was on a foot-path by the road 
side, near some decaying animal substance on which it had just fed, 
and was moving about apparently with some uncertainty, as, in- 
stead of running olf as is usual with its congeners after being 
satisfied with food, it stopped, and moved its head and remaining 
antenna in every direction, and did not seem to be so much 
affected by sounds as most of its family usually are. What the 
object of its motions was, is not apparent, but it is evident that, 
having just fed and being at the same time in the immediate 
vicinity of aliment, it could not be searching for that, and it is 
probable therefore its motions were not influenced by the sense of 
smell. I next endeavoured to ascertain whether the Sylplice can 
discover the presence of aliment by means of the antennae when 
placed very near to those organs. For this purpose I took a male 
specimen that had been confined for sixteen hours without food, 
and, placing it in a glass, attached a small piece of flesh within 
half an inch of it. The antennae, as is usual with these insects, 
continued to be moved about on either side, but with nothing re- 
markable in their motions, while the head of the insect was a little 
elevated and carried forwards, as if it perceived the flesh, and the 
palpi were in rapid vibratory motion. It soon approached very 
near to the food, and at length touched it three or four times with 
the antennae, but each time suddenly withdrew them as if they 
had fallen unexpectedly on something obnoxious, the palpi during 
the whole time continuing their motion. The insect at length 
reached the food, and after having touched it once or twice with 
the extremities of the palpi, their motion ceased, and it commenced 
feeding, while the antennae were occasionally in motion as before. 
This experiment was repeated many times and with precisely the 
same result. During the experiment it was sufficiently proved to 
me that the creature discovered its food by the faculty of smell, 
