A differential equation has been derived for the motion of the mechanosensory hairs of animals when they are stimulated by the motion of their fluid environment. Specific solutions of the equation are obtained for three states of fluid flow including steady-state sinusoidal oscillations. The model is specifically applied to crayfish sensilla in an aqueous medium, but the assumptions of the model are also shown to be valid in air for the sensory hairs of insects. The calculations are consistent with available experimental data.