SENSES OF INSECTS. 245 
sensory, though they produce no effect upon our grosser 
organs? I propose this merely as conjecture, that you 
may think it over, and reject or adopt it, in proportion as 
it appears to you reasonable or the contrary; and in the 
hope that some anatomist of insects, who, to the sagacity 
and depth of a Cuvier and a Savigny adds the hand and 
eye of a Lyonnet, may give to the world the results 
of a more minute dissection and fuller investigation of 
the antenneze of these animals, than has yet been under-: 
taken. 
But besides receiving notices from the atmosphere, of 
sounds, and of the approach or proximity of other in- 
sects, &c., the antennze are probably the organs by which 
insects can discover alterations in its state, and foretel 
by certain prognostics when a change of weather is ap- 
proaching. Bees possess this faculty to an admirable de- 
gree. When engaged in their daily labours, if a shower 
is approaching, though we can discern no signs of it, 
they foresee it, and return suddenly to their hives. If 
they wander far from home, and do not return till late 
in the evening, it is a prognostic to be depended upon, 
that the following day will be fine: but if they remain 
near their habitations, and are seen frequently going and 
returning, although no other indication of wet should be 
discoverable, clouds will soon arise and rain come on. 
Ants also are observed to be excellently gifted in this re- 
spect: though they daily bring out their larvee to sun 
them, they are never overtaken by sudden showers?. 
Previously to rain, as you well know, numberless insects 
seek the house; then the Conops calcitrans, leaving more 
« Lehmann De Usu Antenn. 11. 66—. 
