INSECT MUSIC 



AMONG 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 an- 

 other ant is also very interesting as regards 

 its sound-producing habit. "Individuals of this 

 species are sometimes spread over a surface of 

 two square yards, many out of sight of the others ; 

 yet the tapping is set up at the same moment, con- 

 tinued 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 synchro- 

 nously with every other ant, but only like those in 

 the same group, so the independent tappings play 

 a sort of tune, each group alike in time, but the 

 tapping of the whole mass beginning and ending 

 at the same instant. This is doubtless a means of 

 communication. " 



The organ of hearing in insects is still to be dis- 

 covered in many forms, but in katydids it is 

 situated on the middle of the fore-legs ; in butter- 

 flies on the sides of the thorax, while the tip of 

 the horns or antennae of many insects is con- 



