SMELL. 309 



of the proboscis, that any visible effect was pro- 

 duced upon the insect, which then gave decisive 

 indications of strong aversion. M. Lefebvre found 

 that a bee was apparently unaffected by the ap- 

 proach of ether to the abdominal region, or even by 

 its application to the stigmata; but manifested great 

 agitation when the effluvia reached the antennge. 

 From his experiments on a wasp he concluded that 

 the sensibility to odours resides exclusively in the 

 last segment of the antennae.* Mr. Kirby has 

 discovered in the anterior part of the nose of the 

 Necrophorus vespillo, or burying-beetle, which is an 

 insect remarkable for the acuteness of its smell, a 

 pair of circular pulpy cushions, covered with a 

 membrane, beautifully marked with fine transverse 

 furrows. These he considers as the organs of smell ; 

 and he has found similar structures in several other 

 insects.t 



No distinct organs of smell have been discovered 

 in any of the Mollusca ;J but as there is evidence 

 that some of the animals belonging to that class 

 possess tills sense, it has been conjectured that it 

 resides either in the whole mucous surface of the 

 mantle, or in the respiratory organs. Swammerdam 

 observed, long ago, that snails are evidently affected 

 by odours ; and the cuttle-fish is said to show a 

 decided aversion to strongly scented plants. 



* Ann. Soc. Entomol. de France, 1838 : and Ann. Sc. Nat. ser. 

 2. xi. 191. 



t Ibid. vol. iii. 481 ; and iv. 254. 



I A group of laminoe, closely resembling the olfactory organs of 

 Fishes, has been lately observed by Mr. Owen in the Nautilus. 



VOL. II. B B 



