182 ORGANS OF HEARING. 



I made a quiet, not loud, but distinct noise : the 

 antenna nearest to me immediately moved towards 

 me. I repeated 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 more agitated and violent in its motions, 

 In this instance it could not be touch ; since the an- 

 tenna was not applied to a surface, but directed 

 towards the quarter from which the sound came, m 

 if to listen. It is necessary, however, to remark, 

 that there is a want of precision in these experi- 

 ments, as no precautions are mentioned to have beeni 

 taken to hide the cause of the noise from the eye* 

 of the insect." * 



" It is important to remark, with regard to thifi 

 inquiry, that no effect is likely to be produced upom 

 insects by sounds unconnected with their habits ; 

 for even the timid hare will scarcely bend its ear to 

 the clang of a peal of bells, or the beat of a drum,, 

 while the bark of a lapdog would put it to imme- 

 diate flight ; and though a flock of rooks, as we have* 

 frequently remarked, will feed unalarmed during a 

 violent thunder-storm, the report of a fowling-piece, 

 though ever so distant, or even of a boy's pop-gun, 

 will instantly rouse them. The same holds with 

 respect to insects ; and accordingly the quick-eared 

 grashoppers, locusts, and crickets, will not pay any. 



* Introduction to Entomology, vol. iv. p. 242. 

 f Huber on Bees, p. 285. 



