184 ORGANS OF HEARING. 
the Long-homed Japan (Adela, Latreiiur), have 
their antenne prodigiously long; and as they ap- 
pear early in spring, even, as Latreille remarks, 
_ before the oak is in leaf, may not these organs be 
to give them quick intelligence of the approach of 
birds, who are then most eager in hunting after 
insects? Be this as it may, these little moths are 
exceedingly timid, and, though not of very rapid 
flight, will start off at the slightest rustle.” * 
«* When observing the various actions of insects, 
we see them suddenly stretch their antennee for- 
wards in case of noise, danger, or, in general, when 
any thing is done to attract their attention ; and 
they keep them thus stretched forward as long as 
their attention continues, a circumstance which 
proves that the antenne serve the purpose of 
apprising them of what passes at a distance, and 
consequently must either be organs of hearing or 
organs of smell. M. Réaumur, (Mém. des Insectes, 
i. 643,) while he rejects the opinion that the an- 
tenn serve to explore objects, thinks it possible 
they may be the organs either of some unknown 
sense, or of smell. The latter opinion, however, is 
supported by no fact either anatomical or physio- 
logical ; nor is it at all even probable, inasmuch 
as the antennee are not soft and lubricated, as ob- 
servation proves to be necessary for this kind of 
* See Insect Miscellanies, pp. 108, 109. 
