52 1< EXTERNAL ANATOMY OF INSECTS. 



larky.; and others when they elevate one depress the 

 other, and so proceed as if balancing themselves by 

 means of these organs like a rope-dancer. I have before 

 stated to you how by motions of their antennae, ants and 

 bees communicate their wants or discoveries to each 

 other, or make inquiry concerning any thing they wish 

 to know a . But as I shall have occasion to make some 

 further remarks upon this subject, when the senses of 

 insects are under discussion, I shall for the present take 

 my leave of it. 



I shall conclude what I have to communicate to you 

 relative to the organs of which we are treating, with a 

 few observations with respect to their station when the 

 insect reposes. In the Capricorn-beetles, Encera and 

 other insects with long antenna?, they are merely turned 

 back or on one side with no particular cavity for their re- 

 ception when unemployed, but probably the apex passes 

 under the body. In the Predaceous and Darkling bee- 

 tles (CarabusI^. Tencbrio L.) their station is usually un- 

 der the sides of the prothorax, and in the Tortoise bee- 

 tles (Cassida), under its anterior margin. In the Elastic 

 beetles (Elate)-) they are received into a groove between 

 the under margin of that part and the fore-breast (antc- 

 pccius). In Anthrenns, when the animal reposes or 

 counterfeits death, the antennas are concealed in a ca- 

 vity of the underside of the prothorax, at right angles 

 with the throat b . In the kindred genus Byrrhus^ another 

 simulator of death, a large cavity is excavated under the 

 same part, to receive both the forelegs and antennas, a 

 narrow space being left between the angle of the pro- 



a Sec Vol. II. p, 65, 20 l-™« » De Gecr iv. t. vii./. 22. 



