23 



CHAPTER II. 



TASTE IN INSECTS. 



IT has been concluded by several naturalists that birds 

 are destitute of the faculty of taste, because the tongue 

 of some is in part formed of bone or gristle, and in 

 all is rigid and dry, particularly in birds which feed 

 on grain*. By the same mode of inference we might 

 be led to decide that insects are also without taste, 

 because the organs in them, which appear analogous 

 to the tongue and palate, are, in many cases, dry 

 and horny. But, unfortunately for these conjec- 

 tures, the habits of the animals demonstrate that 

 they are endowed with this sense, in many cases, 

 in as great perfection as the theorists themselves. 

 Without taste, indeed, no animal could continue its 

 existence; and, consequently, it is indispensable to 

 all organized beings, though its peculiarities cannot 

 always be traced to the structure or form of the 

 organs. In cattle, and animals which feed on green 

 herbs, the tongue is both large and studded with 

 large tasters (Papillce), abundantly moistened with 

 saliva, and also, as Blumenbach discovered, with a 

 peculiar mucus t. In herbivorous animals this is 

 more necessary than in those which feed upon flesh ; 

 for the variety of herbs is so great, and they often 

 grow so promiscuously together, that, had cattle riot an 

 acuteness and nicety of taste in distinguishing, they 

 might frequently be poisoned. This, however, rarely 



* Montagu, Ornith. Diet., Intr. 

 f Specimen Hist. Nat,, p. 4, &c. 4to. Gottingoe, 1816. j 



