The Hunting Wasps 



Silphae, 1 the Histers, 2 the Dermestes 3 hasten 

 from every side to the spot where lies a little 

 corpse of which the ground is to be purged. 

 Guided by scent, these grave-diggers hurry 

 towards the dead Mole. 



But, while the presence of the olfactory 

 sense in insects is indisputable, we still ask 

 ourselves where it is seated. Many declare 

 that the seat is in the antennae. Let us ad- 

 mit this, though it is difficult to understand 

 how a rod consisting of horny segments, 

 jointed end to end, can fulfill the office of a 

 nostril which is so very differently con- 

 structed. The organization of one appara- 

 tus having naught in common with the other, 

 can the impressions received by both be of 

 the same nature? When tools are dissimi- 

 lar, do their functions remain alike? 



Besides, there are grave objections in the 

 case of our Wasp. Smell is a passive rather 

 than an active sense; it does not, like touch, 

 anticipate the impression: it receives it; it 

 does not enquire after the scented effluvium: 

 it accepts it when it comes. Now the Ammo- 

 phila's antennae are always moving: they in- 



1 Carrion-beetles. Translator's Note. 

 2 Mimic-beet1es. Translator's Note. 

 8 Bacon-beetles. Translator's Note. 



374 



