tugging at opposite ropes, thus keeping the spider's legs in full tension, and never relaxing their hold, they forced him unwillingly along; unable to extricate himself from custody, and no rescue appearing, he finally disappeared from my sight in the dark defiles of the nest. Insects certainly enjoy the sense of touch, but it would seem to be confined to the antennæ and feelers in front of the head, which appear, in most instances, to precede their steps, and probably possess the same delicate sense as the whiskers of the feline tribe. The Ichneumonida, in particular, are perpetually waving their antennæ, and thrust them down holes, as if to obtain information otherwise unattainable, which they would hardly do if, as some suppose, the antennæ were in reality merely ears. De Geer conceived this idea from observing a coleopterous insect, apparently asleep, rouse up its antennæ quickly at a loud noise he made. But this it would have done just the same on the supposition that it is the organ of sensitive feeling-for, hearing the noise, and seeing nothing, it would naturally stretch forth its antennæ to ascertain, if possible, on which side danger threatened. I have generally found that insects are very sensible to any injury offered to their antennæ, and I have observed a species of podura fall into convulsions from its antennæ being cut off in examining it. The tarsi are also useful organs of touch in insects-in many having a broad spongy surface, which, among flies, is applied with great facility to enable them to walk upon the smooth superficies of any object. The insect tribes have evidently more of epicureanism about them than we are generally aware of; they possess taste, therefore, to a considerable degree, and many have organs for the production of saliva. It is true that certain caterpillars are omnivorous, but the greater number will die sooner than touch a viand that is disagreeable to them. The seat of the olfactory nerve in insects is a disputed point; but that odours affect them there can be no doubt, for how otherwise would the flesh-fly discover putrid flesh, even in the most secluded spot. Some insects even give out the musky odour so much cherished, though others have an effluvia altogether unpleasant. Hearing is another sense possessed by the tribes passing in review before us, though there is no apparent external ear, and we can only judge by analogy, as the aural nerve has not yet been detected. But to what end would be the boom of the bee, the buzz of the fly, or the hum of the gnat, if hearing was denied to them? Does the "Pretty cricket, full of mirth, roll out his merry song to deaf ears?-This is hardly probableand must be considered impossible, if what I have now to communicate be correct-but at present I must admit I cannot say "probatum est" to it. Some months ago a gentleman applied to me for information how to exterminate some crickets, which made such an obstreperous noise every night in his house, as to banish peace from the place. The only method I could at that time recommend was the issue of personal process against the cricket, in order that he might be compelled to appear before "Our Lord the King, at Westminster." But I have since learnt an easier remedy, which I shall state for the relief of all enemies to noise. On some evening in the cricket season, procure a band, the greater the number of instruments the better, and it is of no consequence if the amalgamation of sweet sounds be altogether harmonious or not, so that the noise made be considerable. Let this din be kept up throughout the whole night, and the crickets will be so astounded that they will forthwith slink off, and desert the haunted mansion. On the organs of sight I shall not here dilate-their structure is however, remarkable. Nearly all winged insects have compound eyes, which consist of a great number of hexagonal slightly convex lenses, of which 17,325 have been counted in the eye of a butterfly. The instinct, mind, or whatever else we please to call it, in insects, must assuredly place them next in rank to the vertebrata, many of whom they surpass in skill and ingenuity. But then this skill is impressed upon them, it is thought, when they enter the world, and they are precluded from a higher advance in the scale of perfection. Perhaps this opinion will hereafter be found to require some modification. What ideas they may entertain of man we can hardly imagine, because perhaps none, certainly very few insects, can be said ever to have been tamed. Bees, indeed, partly domesticated, certainly know their owner, and will bear from him liberties they would not from a stranger. They would seem also to possess a higher degree of intelligence than most other insects, and this is confirmed by their anatomical structure. For Straus Durckheim remarks,* that as in higher animals the degree of intelligence is in proportion to the number of convolutions of the cerebrum, so he found that hymenopterous insects (among which bees rank) were the only ones where he could detect in the ganglion, or brain of the head, any well-marked convolutions. Wasps seem often to act as if instigated by passion, and generally rush furiously to attack the face, as I have found to my cost. It seems, however, somewhat strange, that in attacking a wasp's nest, no fear need be entertained from the bands that are out on duty, provided the garrison within are secured, and prevented from egress if any of these are enabled to come forth and communicate the state of affairs, the event may prove serious. A collector I was well acquainted with, informed me, that having one afternoon dug up a wasp's nest for the sake of that curious interloper amongst them, the Rhipiphorus paradoxus, he was carrying it off rather carelessly, when, the entrance not having been so fully closed up as it ought to have been, two or three wasps contrived to get out, and almost * Bull. des Sci. Nat, immediately he was so furiously assailed by a battalion before unobserved or unnoticed, that he was compelled to throw down the nest, and seek his safety in flight. In this case it would seem that the wasps out of the nest did not understand what was taking place in their mansion and treasures, till informed by the few who, having escaped from within, suddenly cheered them on to the rescue. Spiders, closely allied to insects, have formed intimacies with prisoners, in whose cells they had fixed their abodes, and have learned to come out of their webs when called; -but how far they understood the connection thus made, or if it was merely an impulse to obtain food, is a fact not clearly ascertained. In one respect, it must be confessed, insects are deficient-they have no voice. With all their humming, booming, buzzing, piping, chirrupping, creaking, droning, whizzing and whirring; aye, notwithstanding a thousand seeming evidences to the contrary, and the assertion of the Bard of the "Seasons," that - "The burnish'd Ay Sprung from the meads, o'er which he sweeps along, Notwithstanding this, and the delight every one must have experienced from standing in the midst of a rich balmy-breathing field, gay with May-flowers, and listening to the multitudinous variety of insect-sounds that now rising upon the gale in trumpet-like clangors, now falling into the softest and gentlest almost unheard murmurs, soothe the ear, and impart a delicious-a luxurious tranquillity;-notwithstanding what is familiar to all _"the ceaseless hum To him who wanders through the woods at noon,"* and resting beneath some grotesque yew tree, dark with refreshing verdure, dozes in sweet repose, while the bees, among the banks of mellifluous thyme, as they wing from blossom to blossom "Travel with audible melodious hum,"† soothing him to that ecstatic rest which the tired pedestrian of a summer's day can only appreciate; -even the wish of Milton -"Hide me from day's garish eye, While the bee with honied thigh, : is unavailing-for it must be admitted that insects are altogether deficient of the legitimate organs of speech; they have no larynx, and consequently any noises they make are merely mechanicaljust as any one may clap their hands, beat a drum, or whirl a stick round. This certainly affords some ground for the celebrated sarcasm of Xenarchus the Rhodian ; "Happy the Cicadas' lives, * Cowper. + Bidlake. But Xenarchus forgets to tell us, or did not know, that if lady insects cannot raise their voices in an unpleasant key, many of them are possessed of a more powerful weapon than voicea poisonous barb, or sting, which no male insect is entrusted with; so that before we adopt the reform sarcastically suggested by the crusty old Rhodian bachelor, we had better inquire whether "the harmony of sweet sounds" with an angel's form, is not more endurable, than if mankind had literally to conquer voiceless Amazons, armed with sword and buckler. My coucluding sketches of the economy of insects, and the bright and lovely images called forth by the transformations of several of their charming tribes, I must defer till next month-for having now spun out my thread, I feel it necessary to repose in chrysalis, till called forth to a new existence amidst the splendid landscapes of July. SONNETS. 1. Suggested by a Scene in Cowleigh Park, near Great Malvern. HERE let me linger, while yon shadowy wood, Sweet forest-haunting sprite!-thy every tone My pensive Fancy moves in unison, Rejoicing to become thy gentle thrall, Thy gems of song so richly musical. E. S. II. To the Flower called Veronica chamadrys-the Germander Speedwell. THOUGH the wind lulls, the storm-cloud scarce is past, E. S. ON THE TENDENCY & PROSPECTS OF MECHANICS INSTITUTIONS.* BY W. HAWKES SMITH. It has been facetiously declared to be "contrary to the laws of England to make a man happy against his will." This is, after all, a very judicious maxim, and, well attended to, would check the impertinence of many an officious meddler. My object is, to prevent such an imputation from attaching itself to me. I am the perpetual advocate of Mechanics' Institutions, because I am fully convinced that these institutions tend, more than any other of equal cost, to produce increased knowledge and intelligence-and that such increased knowledge and intelligence, well and fearlessly worked, are the surest road to increased happiness. This is my firm opinion, and it is the result of years of reflection and observation. In what does happiness consist? In a series of pleasing impressions; and it were not difficult to shew that such a pleasing series must flow from intellectual sources; from intellectual, as opposed to animal enjoyments. Still, however, human nature claims a certain portion of physical comforts as necessary ingredients to happiness, and if, on inquiry, it be found that the world is capable of supplying these comforts in abundance to all, it becomes a duty to endeavour to obtain the desired distribution. And on whom is this duty most manifestly paramount? Surely on those who suffer from the unequal distribution of the means of physical comfort. Let them inquire, then, what are the qualifications which enable men most surely to acquire the desired share, and they will soon perceive that it is the possession of a good education. This is now pretty much seen, and the effects of the discovery are curiously diversified. Some would quietly close-or being closed, would keep fast shut, the doors of the temple of knowledge, against the working people, because they apprehend that the diffusion of knowledge would inevitably lead to searching inquiries into the means of a better diffusion of comforts. This is sheer selfishness. Others perceive that there is a disposition excited to acquire information, and they * Being a portion of a lecture lately read before the Birmingham Mechanics' Institution. † Since this lecture was written, I have seen Simpson's work on "Popular Education as a national object." Would those who have not yet considered the subject closely, sit down by fifties in a company, night after night; deputing one to read aloud from this important and most intrepid work, and determine to act as the convictions which might be induced we should have a chance of seeing the search after happiness rationally conducted. |