TITLES. 
Ins. 45 
362. Wielowiejski, H. von. Zur Kenntniss der Eibildung bei der 
Feuerwanze. \_Hemiptera.~\ Zool. Anz. viii. pp. 369-375. 
A preliminary note, published in consequence of Will being engaged 
in studying the process of egg formation in allied insects. Certain of 
Will’s interpretations of what he observed are discussed, and on p. 375 
the author states his own views. [Cf. J. R. Micr. Soc. (2) v. p. 798.] 
363. Will, F. Das Geschmacksorgan der Insekten. Z. wiss. Zool. xlii. 
pp. 67F-706, pi. xxvii. 
The questions discussed are :—1, Flave insects a sense of taste? and 
what influence has it in the struggle for existence ? 2, What structure 
have the peripheral terminations of the organs devoted to it ? The 
opinions and observations of previous writers on the sense of taste in 
insects are summarized, pp. 674-678. Experiments by the author to 
prove the existence of the sense are detailed. He considers that in 
insects the senses are very limited in their bounds, but within these 
limits are extremely fine—far superior to our own faculties. On p. 680, 
note, he gives observations made as to the hearing of insects ( Coleoptera ), 
from which he concludes that they can perceive stridulation at a greater 
distance than it can be detected by our own ears. His special experi¬ 
ments as to taste are described, p. 682, &c., such as placing sugar in a 
given spot and afterwards substituting alum. The duration of a par¬ 
ticular taste-impression is apparently a long one, p. 684. From these 
observations he considers it certain that Hymenoptera and Diptera are 
endowed with a sense of taste (insects of other orders were not experi¬ 
mented on). He then shows how difficult it is to prove by actual experi¬ 
ment at what spot the sense is located. Search for alteration of colour 
in the protoplasm under the cup organs under the influence of tasty sub¬ 
stances failed, but a result was detected from electricity. He believes, 
however, that no way exists of ascertaining what are the actual organs of 
taste other than anatomical and histological examination of each appa¬ 
ratus in connection with a nerve termination. Then follows, p. 686, a 
discussion on the importance of the sense to the existence ; this he con¬ 
siders to be small. The assembling of butterflies in wet places is dis¬ 
cussed in note, p. 687. He alludes to the great variety of predilections 
displayed by different insects as regards sense of taste. Then follow 
the anatomical and histological investigations ; the organs of taste in 
Hymenoptera are treated of; and the terminal neural apparatus at the 
tip of the ligula and the paraglossse ; the cup like organs at the base of 
the tongue and on the under-side of the maxillae are described (and in a 
note the ravages of Atta cephalotes in Brazil are mentioned, this species 
attacking by preference imported trees, p. 699). He concludes that there 
can be no doubt that the cup-like organs are portions of an apparatus for 
a sense of taste, and he also feels convinced that the terminal sensory 
bristles of the tip of the ligula have a similar function, and that none of 
the other structures on the trophi or the buccal cavity serve such a pur¬ 
pose. The plate presents numerous figures of the trophi and portions of 
the trophi, as well as of sections, to show the structures described. He 
hopes to describe the organs of taste in Diptera and Lepidoptera shortly. 
