394 



ANTENNAE OF INSECTS. 



Cricket above 100), and are very flexible. This flexibility 

 enables them to be turned towards any object under examina- 

 tion by the Insect ; and when the animal is walking, we see 

 them constantly being applied to the surfaces of the bodies 

 which it approaches, in a manner which leaves little doubt 

 that they are used as organs of touch. It is no objection to 

 this view, to say that, as their surfaces are hard, no delicate 

 sensations can be received through them; for the slightest 



Fig. 199. VARIOUSLY-FORMED ANTENNJE of INSECTS. 



contact of their firmest points with a hard substance, may 

 produce a sense of resistance which will afford to the animal 

 the information which it requires. The stick used by the 

 blind man in feeling his way, serves a very similar purpose. 

 It appears to be by sensations received through their 

 antennae, that Bees and other Insects which naturally work 

 in the dark, are enabled to carry-on their labours without 

 confusion or inaccuracy ; and to be by the same means, that 

 they communicate with each other. When the antennae are 

 cut off, the Bee at once ceases to work, and seems unable to 

 direct its movements in any other way than towards the light. 

 When any important event has happened in a community, 

 such as the loss of the Queen, the spreading of the intelligence 

 through the whole hive may be watched by a close observer. 

 The working bees which were near her are observed to run 

 about restlessly, applying their antennae to those of the others 

 they may meet, crossing them and striking lightly with them ; 

 these in their turn become agitated and do the same ; and 

 thus the intelligence is speedily propagated throughout the 

 hive. In the same manner, when two bees meet each other 

 out of their hives, they seem to reconnoitre one another for 

 some time by the movements of their antennae; and often 



