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The Descent of Man

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'Verh. d. n. V. Jahrg.' xxix. p. 80. Mayer, in 'American<br />

Naturalist,' 1874, p. 236.) watched for<br />

some time two males <strong>of</strong> an Eristalis courting a<br />

female; they hovered above her, and flew from<br />

side to side, making a high humming noise at<br />

the same time. Gnats and mosquitoes (Culicidae)<br />

also seem to attract each other by humming;<br />

and Pr<strong>of</strong>. Mayer has recently ascertained<br />

that the hairs on the antennae <strong>of</strong> the male vibrate<br />

in unison with the notes <strong>of</strong> a tuning-fork,<br />

within the range <strong>of</strong> the sounds emitted by the<br />

female. <strong>The</strong> longer hairs vibrate sympathetically<br />

with the graver notes, and the shorter hairs<br />

with the higher ones. Landois also asserts that<br />

he has repeatedly drawn down a whole swarm<br />

<strong>of</strong> gnats by uttering a particular note. It may be<br />

added that the mental faculties <strong>of</strong> the Diptera<br />

are probably higher than in most other insects,<br />

in accordance with their highly- developed<br />

nervous system. (21. See Mr. B.T. Lowne's interesting<br />

work, 'On the Anatomy <strong>of</strong> the Blow-fly,<br />

Musca vomitoria,' 1870, p. 14. He remarks (p.

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