NOISES OF INSECTS. 



315 



europcea, a hymenopterous insect, makes a sibilant chirping, 

 as I once observed at Southwold, where it abounds ; but how 

 produced I cannot say. The praying mantis (M. religiosa), 

 as Ave learn from M. Goureau, when alarmed and having put 

 itself in an attitude of defence, rubs the sides of the abdomen 

 against the interior borders of the wings and elytra, so as to 

 produce a noise like that of parchment rubbed together. 1 The 

 most remarkable noise, however, proceeding from insects 

 under alarm, is that emitted by the death's-head hawk-moth, 

 and for which it has long been celebrated. The Lepidoptera, 

 though some of them, as we have seen, produce a sound when 

 they fly, at other times are usually mute insects : but this 

 alarmist — for so it may be called, from the terrors which it 

 has occasioned to the superstitious — when it walks and more 

 particularly when it is confined, or taken into the hand, sends 

 forth a strong and sharp cry, resembling, some say, that of a 

 mouse, but more plaintive, and even lamentable, which it 

 continues as long as it is held. This cry does not appear to 

 be produced by the wings ; for when they, as well as the 

 thorax and abdomen are held down, it becomes still louder. 

 Schroeter says that the animal, when it utters its cry, rubs its 

 tongue against its head 2 ; and Rosel, that it produces it by 

 the friction of the thorax and abdomen. 3 But Reaumur be- 

 lieved, after the most attentive examination, that the cry came 

 from the mouth, or rather from the tongue ; and he thought 

 that it was produced by the friction of the palpi against that 

 organ. When, by means of a pin, he unfolded the spiral 

 tongue, the cry ceased ; but as soon as it was rolled up again 

 between the palpi it was renewed. He next prevented the 

 palpi from touching it, and the sound also ceased ; and upon 

 removing only one of them, though it continued, it became 

 much more feeble. 4 Huber, however denies that it is pro- 

 duced by the friction of the tongue and palpi 5 : as does M. 

 Passerini, who conceives that it is owing to the alternate in- 

 spiration and expiration of air from the central canal of the 

 proboscis into a peculiar cavity in the head destined for giving 



1 Ann. Soc. Ent, de France, x. bull, xviii. 

 3 III. 16. 



5 Nouv. Obs. ii. 300., note *. 



' 2 Naturforscher Stk. xxi. 77. 

 4 Reaum. ii. 290. 



