Objects for the Microscope. 



81 



antennae enable us at first sight to recognise the sex. 

 Therefore we should study them, especially in the following 

 insects : 



It has been supposed that they were chiefly the organ 

 of touch, probably of smell also, and of hearing. Certain 

 it is that they are most important to the insect, and that 

 special contrivance for their preservation and use may be 

 observed in many tribes. I will but mention a few exam- 

 ples. The common Water-scorpions, Nepa and Belastoma, 

 have very deep kidney-shaped boxes between the eye and 

 the throat to defend their singular antennae. Cryptocerus, 

 a remarkable ant, has a square plate, the sides of which 

 form a longitudinal cavity in which the antennae lie quite 

 concealed and safe. Many of the Diptera have furrows in 

 their foreheads, which receive and protect the antennae in 

 repose. Many beetles, Anthrenus and Byrrhus, have cavi- 

 ties under the prothorax or breast, where, when alarmed, 

 their antennae are secreted. 



But in proof that they are certainly organs of sensation 

 in a high degree, it has lately been discovered that the 

 antennae of Bees, Wasps, Flies, Dragon-flies and Ichneu- 

 mons have peculiar structures w r hich had never been 

 described before. Dr. Hicks published his papers on the 

 subject in the l Transactions of the Linnaean Society, 

 1857.' 



ANTENNAE OF SYRPHUS, OR OF BLOW-FLY. 

 (Musca Vomitoria.) 



Either of these may be taken to illustrate what is stated 

 by Dr. Hicks. If properly mounted they will be trans- 

 parent ; and on the third joint of each example will be seen 

 a multitude of transparent dots. These dots are perfora- 



