356 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



let us now turn our thoughts for a little space to 

 a pair of organs which are, perhaps, of all others 

 the most characteristic of the insect tribes : these 

 are the Antennae. We need scarcely explain 

 what these are, or point them out to the reader, 

 since they are so familiar to most persons, but 

 under the erroneous, or, at any rate, the question- 

 able expression "the feelers." We have an ex- 

 cellent specimen of antennae in those of the 



Peacock Butterfly. 



butterflies, in which insects they are very long 

 and elegant organs. They are attached to the 

 head by means of a beautiful joint, called a ball 

 and socket, the same as is often adapted to 

 garden watering engine-pipes, so as to enable them 

 to be moved about in all directions. They are 

 never found absent in the perfect insect, and are 

 manifestly organs of considerable importance in 



