6 Of A N T S. 
fituated within the Eyes. fo as not any ways to 
hinder the Sight. The Chief ufe of thefe Anten~ 
nae in Ants and other Infeds is ( as * Mr. Derham 
obferves) to feel with. The Reafon he affigns 
for it is this. “ The Eyes of Inf efts being immove - 
able, and their Cornea and Optic Nerve being al- 
ec ways at one and the fame Difiance , are fitted only 
€C to fee diftantial Objects, but not fuch as are very 
^ near . ” The Feelers therefore prevent any 
Inconveniency that may proceed from Objeds not 
within the Focus of their Eyes. This Ufe is alio 
confirmed from the Shortnefs of the Antennae in 
thofe Infers whofe Eyes are extended over great 
Part of their Heads, and f who therefore require 
not fuch a length of Horns to feel out the Way di- 
redly before them. 
A com- 
* Derhams , Phyfi Theol. B. 8. cap. 3, 
p There is Reafon to believe this may be the chief 
End or Ufe of the Antennae ; for it is remarkable that 
Infedts whofe Eyes are very prominent, or extended 
over great Part of their Heads, have exceeding fhort 
Feelers. As may be feen in many common Flies, and 
other Papilio’s; efpecially in the Dragon, or more 
properly, large Hawk-fly. On the contrary fuch as 
have very little Eyes, and placed on each fide the Head 
at a diftancefrom one another, have remarkably long 
1 Anten- 
