TOUCH. 385 



The universality of these organs among every 

 species of this extensive class of animals, their 

 great flexibility, arising from their jointed struc- 

 ture,* their incessant motion when the insect 

 is walking, and their constant employment in 

 examining the surfaces of all the bodies with 

 which they come in contact, sufficiently point 

 them out as instruments of a very delicate sense 

 of touch. Organs of this kind were particularly 

 necessary to insects, since the horny nature of 

 the integuments of the greater number pre- 

 cludes them from imparting any accurate per- 

 ceptions of touch. 



It has been conjectured that the antennae of 

 insects are the organs of other senses besides 

 that of touch. If an insect be deprived of its 

 antennae, it either remains motionless, or if it 

 attempt to walk or fly, appears bewildered, and 

 moves without any apparent object. Huber 

 found that Bees are enabled, by feeling with 

 their antennae, to execute their various works in 

 the interior of the hive, where, of course, they 

 can have no assistance from light. They employ 



* The number of segments into which these organs are divided 

 is often very great. In the Gryllotalpa, or mole cricket, it 

 amounts to above 100. (Kidd, Phil. Trans, for 1825, p. 211.) 

 This insect has, besides the antennae on the head, two posterior 

 or caudal antennae, which are not jointed, excepting at their 

 very commencement. These are extremely sensible, and serve 

 probably to give the animal notice of the approach of any 

 annoyance from behind, lb. p. 216. 



VOL. II. C C 



