1 878.] 
Notices of Boohs . 
557 
hidden among the others. Here, the compiler remarks, “ the 
theory of Sexual Selection proposed by Darwin appears to fail 
just where it should aid us most.” We certainly cannot contend 
that Sexual Selection can account for ornamentation in an invi- 
sible part. But as little will the doCtrine of the old school of 
natural history — that beauty in plants and animals exists merely 
for the delectation of man — serve our purpose here. 
Mr. Packard deprived a number of inseCts of all orders of 
their antennae. He found that the hive-bee was more affeCted 
than any of the others operated upon. “ The removal of the 
antennae of this inseCt seemed to show that the sense of hearing 
may reside in the antennae, while that of smell has its seat in 
the palpi (and perhaps the tongue) alone. It would also seem 
as if the antennal nerves were so continuous with the brain 
(supra-oesophagical ganglia) that they form as it were a part of 
it, their removal at a little distance from their origin producing 
such a shock to the ganglionic nervous system that the inseCt 
aCts somewhat like a bird when deprived of its central hemi- 
spheres. In an ichneumon the sense of taste appears to be 
situated in the ends of the palpi. In the butterflies the sense of 
taste, as well as touch, is situated in the spiral tongue. Spiders, 
on losing their maxillary palpi, seemed to be affeCted much as 
inserts on the loss of their antennae.” 
In view of the great shock to the nervous system here admitted 
we should feel somewhat sceptical as to the value of the indica- 
tions afforded by such a method of experimentation. Our own 
observations — made on presenting to inseCts a great variety of 
bodies, attractive and repulsive — lead us to the conclusion that 
the antennae are the organs of smell. The following experi- 
ments, performed by Pere Montrousier, of New Caledonia, 
supports the same view : — He coated a weevil, Octhorinus cmci- 
atus, over with wax, save the tips of the antennae. On presenting 
to it oil of turpentine it was much agitated, and endeavoured to 
escape. Another specimen, on the contrary, had merely the tips 
of its antennae coated with wax, and it remained perfectly indif- 
ferent to all strong-smelling substances. 
Dr. Hartlaub’s researches on the birds of Madagascar 
strengthen the case of those who consider that island too dis- 
tinct in its fauna from the adjoining mainland to be regarded 
merely as a sub-region of the Ethiopian region. In Madagascar 
there occurs not one of the forms most characteristic of Africa. 
Sir John Lubbock, in his latest experiments, finds that ants 
recognise old companions, and receive them amicabiy, even 
after a year’s separation, while strangers are almost invariably 
attacked. 
Prof. A. Gray thus states “ Nature’s golden rule for flowers : 
get fertilised ; cross-fertilised if you can ; self-fertilised if you 
must.” 
