INSECTS IN GENERAL. C)3 



Facts, as well as analogy, are also in opposition to the 

 theory that insects smell with their spiracles. Bees shew an 

 especial dislike to the smell of the oil of turpentine. M. P. 

 Huber, anxious to ascertain the seat of smell in these insects, 

 tried the application of this drug with a hair-pencil, and also 

 of oil of marjoram to the abdomen, the head, the trunk, the 

 eyes, and the antennae, without effect. " But when he pointed 

 the pencil near the cavity of the mouth, above the insertion 

 of the proboscis'"' the little animal exhibited the most extra- 

 ordinary agitation. Messrs. Kirby and Spence seem to think 

 that the precise organs of smell are discoverable, on dissec- 

 tion, in the common burying beetle, and consist in a pair of 

 circular pulpy cushions found under the nose and the rhina- 

 rium, or nostril piece. These cushions are covered by a 

 transversely striated membrane. Analogous parts are to be 

 found in other insects. By what channel scents act upon 

 this organ, whether transmitted through the pores of the 

 part representing the nostrils, or received by the mouth, 

 the learned authors just cited do not determine, though they 

 rather incline to the former opinion. 



Whatever controversy may have existed respecting hear- 

 ing and smell, we believe that the sense of taste has never 

 been denied to insects. For a long time it was supposed to 

 reside in the palpi, because these parts of the mouth are con- 

 tinually in motion, and applied in all points to the food in 

 proportion as it is divided and bruised by the mandibles and 

 jaws. Observers were led to this notion, because in a great 

 number of species the extremity of the palpi swells, is 

 softened, and becomes, as it were, vesicular. It was in con- 

 sequence of this peculiarity that some physiologists declared 

 their opinion that the organ of smell might reside in this 

 part. The palpi, however, do not exist in a great number 

 of insects, or at least, are so short as to be utterly inapplic- 

 able to this purpose. It is more natural to presume that 



