ORGANS OF HEARING. 181 
with nerves of an extraordinary thickness in pro- 
portion to their own size, there cannot remain a 
doubt that they are organs of some sense, and that 
too a very acute one. 
“T have said, that insects are proved by obser- 
vation to be furnished with an organ of hearing. It 
is, indeed, scarcely probable that creatures such as 
the tree-hopper (Cicada), and the locust (Locusta), 
to which nature has given the faculty of producing 
a peculiar sound, by means of an appropriate organ, 
should, at the same time, be deprived of the means 
of hearing such sounds, inasmuch as these can have 
reference only to their own kindred. It is still 
farther proved, that these insects share the faculty 
of hearing, along with all other living beings, by 
their ceasing to sing the instant they fear they 
have been discovered.” * 
“T once was observing,” says Kirby, ‘ the mo- 
tions of a weevil (Apion) under a pocket micro- 
scope: on seeing me, it receded. Upon my making 
a slight but distinct noise, its antenne started: I 
repeated the noise several times, and invariably 
with the same effect. A beetle (Harpalus,) which 
I was holding in my hand, answered the sound in 
the same manner repeatedly. I will now mention 
another effect that I observed, still more remark- 
able. A little moth was reposing upon my window ; 
* See Mield Naturalist’s Magazine, i. pp. 59, 60. 
