OF THE SENSES OF INSECTS. 71 



OF TOUCH. 



Most naturalists are now of opinion, that the organs 

 of touch, in insects in general, are the antennae and 

 palpi, or what have usually been called the feelers. 



Cuvier and Dumeril think that the palpi of insects 

 are the organs of touch. While in search of food, 

 these are used to try every object which they meet 

 with. When walking, they are used to feel the 

 ground ; while they are used as hands by the scorpion, 

 and sometimes as feet by the spiders. Professor 

 Rennie is of opinion, that an important organ of 

 touch in insects, which has been altogether over- 

 looked by naturalists, is the surface of the wings, being 

 minutely furnished with nerves, which appear to him 

 expressly formed for that purpose.* He says, " It 

 must be this, indeed, which in a great measure serves 

 to direct their flight, as the focus of the eyes appears, 

 according to our ideas of senses, to be too short for 

 the purpose." The impulses of the atmosphere on 

 the delicate and sensitive organs, may, in a great 

 measure, assist, but certainly the eyes are the organs 

 by which they direct their course. 



In illustration of this doctrine, the Professor 

 observes, " We remarked, for several weeks, near 

 St Adresse, in Normandy, a very limited spot, close 

 by the sea, to be daily frequented by about half a 

 dozen of the Clouded Yellow Butterfly, (Colias 



* Insect Miscellanies, p. 12. 



