or INSECTS IN GENERAL. 
33 * 
length, that he cannot fee from the one end of them to 
the other ; often too, in watching for his prey, he con- 
ceals himfelf in fome adjoining crevice, where he cannot 
fee thofe animals that are enfnared in his toils. The fly, 
however, no fooner finds itfelf entangled, than it makes 
a buzzing noife, in order to efcape ; this noifc is inflant- 
ly heard and underflood by the fpider, who failles forth 
from his concealment, and riots in the fpoil, with all the 
eagernefs and ferocity which diflinguiflies the molt rapa- 
cious animals *. 
If the fenfe of hearing has with difficulty been allowed 
to infeas, natural ids have had flill more in afcertaining 
the place or organ where that fenfe is fituated. The moll 
accurate obfervers of nature have fuppofed it to be plac- 
ed in the antenna : Thefe, from their filiation in the 
head, from their inward flruclure, and their capacity of 
motion, have been fuppofed mofl favourable for the feat 
of fuch organs. Befides, it is difficult to affign any other 
ufe for thefe inftruments, which are common to almofl 
the whole of this clafs of beings. From their extreme 
fenfibility, they feem neither fitted for the purpofes of 
attack nor defence : While, then, it is certain that pro- 
vidence hath made nothing in vain, but hath flamed 
every limb of the fmalleft animal for ufe, as well as or- 
nament, it feems to follow, that the antennae of infefts 
are the appointed organs of hearing, fince there is appa- 
rently no other purpofe in the economy of thefe animals 
which they feem fitted to ferve. 
The antennae of all infe£ts are compofed of joints, 
Varying in form, fize, and number. Among thofe which 
are confined to live moflly under water, as the gyrinus , 
they 
* Genera MeSorutn, utl fapfa. 
