30 INSECT MISCELLANIES. 



whose subcutaneous fluids are scanty, and their skin, 

 in consequence, more rigid and diy. 



That insects correct their sense of smell by means 

 of taste appears from numerous observations. Leh- 

 mann, for example, tells us, that being taken ill while 

 he was eagerly studying the senses of insects, and 

 was using a bitter decoction of wormwood, he ob- 

 served a fly (Musca domestica) pounce upon a bit of 

 sugar which had been accidentally moistened with the 

 medicine. It began to suck the sugar, but upon 

 tasting the bitter it instantly flew off to a contiguous 

 vase, and endeavoured to reject the nauseous drug*. 

 It is in a similar way that flies, when they become 

 troublesome in apartments by their great numbers, 

 are lured to their destruction by poisoned waters 

 sweetened with honey or sugar. Corrosive sublimate 

 (Perchloride of Mercury) and king's yellow (Sesqui 

 Sulphur et of Arsenic) are the poisons most usually 

 employed for this purpose; and we cannot too 

 strongly warn our readers that it is dangerous to 

 leave them in the way of children, or even to have 

 any sort of food near upon which the poisoned flies 

 may alight. Infusion of quassia, however, is equally 

 effectual, and quite safe. The fact of the flies sucking 

 up the poisoned water at all, may be adduced to prove 

 that the flies are destitute of taste, in the same way 

 as it may be said that birds or fishes who poison 

 themselves with food drugged with nux vomica do 

 not taste what they are eating; but the argument will 

 not apply, for the taste of the poison is artfully dis- 

 guised, and it might as justly be argued that Majen- 

 die's maid-servant was destitute of taste when she 

 poisoned herself with prussic acid, deceived by its fine 

 nutty flavour into the notion that it was something 

 very nice f- 



* De Sensibus Externis, p. 36. 

 ^ t See Insect Transformations, p. 77. " 



