246 SENSES OF INSECTS. 
ignoble prey, attacks us in our apartments, and inter~ 
rupts our studies and meditations’. The insects of prey 
also foresee the approach of this weather, and the access 
of flies, &c. to places of shelter. Then the spiders issue 
from their lurking-places, and the Harpalzde in the even- 
ing run about our houses. Passive antennee, which are 
usually furnished with a terminal or lateral bristle, and 
plumose and pectinated ones, seem calculated for the ac- 
tion of the electric and other fluids dispersed in the atmo- 
sphere, which in certain states and proportions may cer- 
tainly indicate the approach of a tempest, or of showers, 
or arainy season, and may so affect these organs as to ena- 
ble the insect to make a sure prognostic of any approach- 
ing change: and we know of no other organ that is so 
likely to have this power. I say electric fluid, because when 
the atmosphere is in a highly electrified state, and a tem- 
pest is approaching, is the time when insects are usually 
most abundant in the air, especially towards the evening ; 
and many species may then be taken, which are not at 
other times to be met with: but before the storm comes 
on, all disappear, and you will scarcely see a single indi- 
vidual upon the wing. ‘This seems to indicate that in- 
sects are particularly excited by electricity®.—But upon 
this head I wish to make no positive assertion, I only 
suggest the probability of the opinion®. 
From all that has been said, I think you will be dis- 
posed to admit that the primary and most universal func- 
tion of the antennee is to be the organs of a sense, if not 
the same, at least analogous to hearing, and answering 
* Vor. I. p. 48, 110. 
» Compare what is said above (p. 135) with respect to bees. 
* See, for further arguments, Lehmann wi supr.c. ix. 4 
