184 ORGANS OF HEARING. 



the Long-horned Japan (Adela, LATREILLE), have 

 their antennae prodigiously long; and as they ap. 

 pear early in spring, even, as Latreille remarks, 

 before the oak is in leaf, may not these organs be i 

 to give them quick intelligence of the approach ol 

 birds, who are then most eager in hunting aftei 

 insects ? Be this as it may, these little moths 

 exceedingly timid, and, though not of very rapid 

 flight, will start off at the slightest rustle." * 



" When observing the various actions of insect^ 

 we see them suddenly stretch their antennae fo#l 

 wards in case of noise, danger, or, in general, whe 

 any thing is done to attract their attention ; and 

 they keep them thus stretched forward as long afi 

 their attention continues, a circumstance which 

 proves that the antennas serve the purpose 

 apprising them of what passes at a distance, anc 

 consequently must either be organs of hearing 0) 

 organs of smell. M. Reaumur, {Mem. des Insectes 

 i. 643,) while he rejects the opinion that the an- 

 tennae serve to explore objects, thinks it possible! 

 they may be the organs either of some unknowr 

 sense, or of smell. The latter opinion, however, v 

 supported by no fact either anatomical or physio- 

 logical ; nor is it at all even probable, inasmucl 

 as the antennae are not soft and lubricated, as ob- 

 servation proves to be necessary for this kind o 



Sec Insect Miscellanies, pp. 108, 109. 



