PHYSIOLOGY. 263 



ralists. " I conceive," says Mr. K., " that the 

 antennae, by a peculiar structure, may collect notices , 

 from the atmosphere, receive pulses or vibrations, 

 and communicate them to the sensorium, which, 

 [communications] though not precisely to be called 

 hearing, may answer the same purpose." Lehmann 

 calls the function of the antennae aeroscepsy. A very 

 remarkable instance of the effect produced upon 

 them by sound, is adduced by the authors just 

 quoted, which one of them has thus related. "A 

 little moth was reposing upon my window ; I made 

 a quiet, not loud, but distinct noise : the nearest 

 antenna immediately moved towards me. I re- 

 peated the noise at least a dozen times, and it 

 was followed every time by the same motion of 

 that organ ; till at length the insect, being alarmed, 

 became agitated and violent in its motions. In 

 this instance, it could not be touch; since the 

 antenna was not applied to a surface, but directed 

 towards the quarter from which the sound came, 

 as if to listen." 



That the antennae should have been regarded 

 as organs of smell is not surprising when the pro- 

 ceedings of the bees on visiting flowers are con- 



o & 



sidered; their first act is to introduce one of the 

 antennae, but no further than the tip : this conduct 

 would naturally enough convey the idea of look- 

 ing or smelling for nectar ; yet it does not at all 

 militate against the opinion that the antennae are 



