THE LARVA. 35 



imago. In other respects, they wholly agree with their parents as 

 regards their conformation ; the same orismology consequently applies 

 to them as to the latter, and with which we shall become acquainted in 

 the description of the perfect insect. 



53. 



All larva; with a perfect metamorphosis have a long, generally 

 cylindrical body, composed of thirteen more or less distinct rings or 

 segments*. Many, which have neither a distinct head, nor feet, are 

 called MAGGOTS (PI. II. f. 1) ; in others the head is clearly distinguished, 

 but the feet are wanting (PI. II. f. 3) ; others again, in addition to the 

 head, have six feet, which are placed upon the three first segments of 

 the body following the head these are called LARVAE (PI. II. f. 4. 6) ; 

 others, lastly which are called CATERPILLARS (Erucce), possess, besides 

 the six horny legs of the three first segments, several membranous legs, 

 called PROLKGS, upon the ventral and anal segments (PL II. f. 5, 



7-12). 



The portions of the body of larvae, consequently, which chiefly merit 

 our attention are, the HEAD, the BODY, with its various clothing, and 

 the LEGS. 



The HEAD (capiit) always occupies the first of the thirteen seg- 

 ments of the body. In many cases it does not at all differ from the 

 other divisions of the body, and is, like them, covered with a soft skin, 

 and equally flexible and changeable in its form. This conformation 



' With respect to the number of the segments, the text might create a little confusion ; 

 for Burmeister says, at 57, in rather an obscure passage, as it does not clearly define 

 whether he includes or excludes the head, that it consists of twelve segments ; thus 

 contradicting what he has previously said above; and Ratzehurg*, in a paper upon the 

 apodal larvae of the Hymenoptera, figures them generally as consisting of thirteen 

 segments, which is their true number, the first and second of which become the head, the 

 third, fourth, and fifth, the thorax, the sixth the pedicle, seventh to thirteenth the abdo- 

 men ; but, at fig. 43, he represents the larva of Apis Mellifica with fourteen segments. 

 Whether this arise from his having figured the larva of the male of that insect, I do not 

 know, for the text does not elucidate it ; but the accompanying figure (44) appears to be 

 the pupa of the male, as it has seven segments to the abdomen. I am not aware that 

 it has been before observed, that the larvae of the males of the aculeate Hymenoptera 

 will necessarily have an additional segment. Ratzeburg seems to take great merit to himself 

 for having discovered that the larva of the Hymenoptera are headless, as he says, and 

 seems to insinuate a censure upon Swammerdam, Reaumur, De Geer, Kirby and Spence, 

 Latreille, &c., for not having noticed as much. It is evident that these writers considered 

 the two first segments as the head, and justly ; for although as yet destitute of the usual 



organs, they were in fact the head, only requiring further development TR. 



* Nov. Act. Med. Phys. Acad. Ca-s. Leop. Carol. Nat. Curios, t. VIII., pi. i. p. 145. 



D 2 



