192 NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS. 



the eyes, but the more rational opinion prevails, that 

 the antennae, with which all insects are provided, are 

 probably, the organs of hearing. They are hollow, 

 provided with muscles, and placed on each side of the 

 head, like the ears of beasts, reptiles, and fishes. 



The use of the proboscis is much better known : it 

 is a spiral tongue, formed to coil up like the spring of 

 a watch, and it is by means of this organ that the in- 

 sect is enabled to pump out the juice of flowers. This 

 spiral tongue, which answers the purpose of a mouth, 

 is placed between the eyes, and consists of two lateral 

 halves which are closely united and which form a hol- 

 low tube like the proboscis of an elephant. Its length 

 varies considerably in the different species of butterfly. 

 We find the longest ones in the Hawk-Moths, but a 

 few species have none at all, as the silkworms, for 

 many live as perfect insects only a few days, and can 

 get along without the trouble of procuring food. 



I have often amused myself with experiments upon 

 the Hawk-moths and Butterflies which were hatched 

 in a warm room as early as the month of March. I 

 have fed them with sugar, holding the insect in my 

 fingers by the wings, and have seen them seize the 

 piece of sugar with their fore feet and thus holding it 

 unfold their proboscis, and with its saliva moistening 

 the sugar, then sucking the juice which could easily 

 be perceived ascending the trunk. This is an cxperi- 

 -^pnt which every one can make at pleasure. 



