382 Prof. A. M. Mayer's Researches in Acoustics. 



scopical Society/ entitled "Auditory Apparatus of the Culex 

 mosquito" by Christopher Johnston, M.D., Baltimore, U.S. 



In this excellent paper I found clear statements showing that 

 its talented author had surmised the existence of some of the 

 physical facts which my experiments and observations have 

 established*. To show that anatomical facts conform to the 

 hypothesis that the antennal fibrils are the auditory organs of 

 the mosquito, I cannot do better than quote the following from 

 Dr. Johnston's paper : — - 



(< While bearing in mind the difference between feeling a noise 

 and perceiving a vibration, we may safely assume with Carus — 

 for a great number of insects at least — that whenever true audi- 

 tory organs are developed in them, their seat is to be found in 

 the neighbourhood of the antenna. That these parts themselves 

 are in some instances concerned in collecting and transmitting 

 sonorous vibrations, we hold as established by the observations 

 we have made, particularly upon the Culex mosquito ; while we 

 believe, as Newport has asserted in general terms, that they serve 

 also as tactile organs. Fig. 2. 



" The male mosquito differs considerably, as is well known, 

 from the female, his body being smaller and of a darker colour, 



* A short, time before the death of my friend Professor Agassiz, he wrote 

 me these words : — ** I can hardly express my delight at reading your letter. 

 I feel you have hit upon one of the most fertile mines for the elucidation 

 of a problem which to this day is a puzzle to naturalists, the seat of the 

 organ of hearing in Articulates." 



