INSECT MUSIC 



MONG insects, sounds are 

 produced in many ways, 

 and for various reasons. A species of ant 

 which makes its nest on the under side of 

 leaves produces a noise by striking the leaf 

 with its head in a series of spasmodic taps, 

 and another ant is also very interesting as re- 

 gards its sound-producing habit. " Individuals 

 of this species are sometimes spread over a sur- 

 face of two square yards, many out of sight of 

 the others; yet the tapping is set up at the same moment, 

 continued exactly the same space of time, and stopped 

 at the same instant. After the lapse of a few seconds, 

 all recommence simultaneously. The interval is always 

 approximately of the same duration, and each ant does 

 not beat synchronously with every other ant, but only 



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