254? SENSES OF INSECTS. 



numberless insects seek the house; then the Stomoxys 

 calcitranS) leaving more ignoble prey, attacks us in our 

 apartments, and interrupts our studies and meditations 3 . 

 The 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 th evening run about our houses. 

 Passive antenna?, which are usually furnished 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 cer- 

 tain states and proportions may certainly indicate the 

 approach of a tempest, or of showers, or a rainy season, 

 and may so affect, 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 at- 

 mosphere is in a highly electrified state, and a tempest 

 is approaching, 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 comes on, 

 all disappear, and you will scarcely see a single indivi- 

 dual upon the wing. This seems to indicate that insects 

 are particularly excited by electricity 5 . But upon this 

 head I wish to make no positive assertion, I only sug- 

 gest the probability of the opinion c . 



From all that has been said, I think you will be dis- 



a VOL. I. p. 48, 110. 



b Compare what is said above (p. 141) with respect to bees. 



c See, for further arguments, Lehmann itbi supr. c. ix. 



