72 OF THE SENSES OB 1 



edusa, Stephens,) which seemed to make a regular 

 circuit, and return again, altogether independent of 

 the direction of the wind, against which they often 

 made way* Now, as they rose to so considerable a 

 height, that they must have lost sight of the ground, 

 we conclude, that they guided their flight more by 

 the weight of the superincumbent air, than by the 

 direction of the wind, an inference rendered more 

 probable, by their never being seen on the heights* 

 which there rise steeply from the shore." * 



We are well aware, that the wings of bats are 

 analogous to the human hand, but possess a degree 

 of feeling much more exquisite than that organ in 

 man. For it is certainly by the nervous sensibility 

 of their wings that they are enabled to avoid flying 

 against walls, trees, and other objects, in the dark. 

 Moths possess this faculty, but in a degree not so 

 perfect as bats. It is a well known fact, that all 

 insects are extremely sensible of any atmospheric 

 change, and that when it is in an electrified state, 

 they retire to some sequestered retreat. This is 

 especially the practice with butterflies, moths, and 

 sphinges. 



" The excellence of the sense of touch in many 

 insects, " says Dr Darwin, " seems to have given 

 them wonderful ingenuity, so as to equal or even 

 excel, mankind in some of their arts and discoveries." 

 He has beautifully illustrated this in his Temple of 

 Nature. 



"* Insect Miscellanies, p. 12. 



