  Raman scattering is used to observe pronounced electronic excitations around
230 meV - well above the two-phonon range - in the Mott insulators LaTiO$_3$
and YTiO$_3$. Based on the temperature, polarization, and photon energy
dependence, the modes are identified as orbital excitations. The observed
profiles bear a striking resemblance to magnetic Raman modes in the insulating
parent compounds of the superconducting cuprates, indicating an unanticipated
universality of the electronic excitations in transition metal oxides.
