pressing pleasure or pain, and understood by
their companions, as is shown by numbers of
bees, or wasps, flying to the assistance of a bro
then in distress, which has been attacked iiear
the hive. Since they have no ears, Mr. Bail ut
conjectures that the antenna arc the scat of
hearing, both from their situation on the head,
and their hollowness, which fits them for flue
conveyance of sounds. If he is right, it is
worth remarking, that, in other animals the
organ of hearing is open, in these it is not so
which is an admirable precaution to preserve
these tender, flexible tubes from being clogged
with dust, to which insects are peculiarly liable.
After all that has been said, it is net i ,room
Mc that these creatures, so essentially difii rent,
from any other class of animated beings, possess
senses of which we have no idea, and that the
antenme are the organs by which one of these
senses is enjoyed. For whatever purpose they
arc designed, they vary in form, size, and
number, according to the wants of the animal.
They are always jointed; and those which be
long to insects that live chiefly in the water, are
shorter than those of such as live on the land,
or soar in the air; the latter of which often
have them very long and slender. Being hoh
low and jointed, they are easily bent in any
direction, and appear to be exquisitely tender
when