FEEDING AND BREATHING 19 



Behind the mandibles and placed farther apart from one 

 another than they, we find a second pair of jaw-limbs, the 

 maxillae (Fig. 65 D), wliich are somewhat complex in form. 

 Each maxilla has a base composed of three pieces, two short 

 ones arranged transversely forming a hinge (cardo) to which 

 is attached a longitudinal axis (stipes), bearing an externally 

 and forwardly directed jointed leg-like organ, the palp, and 

 two lobes, of w^hich the outer (hood or galea) is evenly rounded 

 and coated with soft hairs, while the inner (blade or lacinia) 

 is provided with strongish apical teeth and a row of sharp, 

 hard spines. A live insect with such maxillae as these may 

 be seen often to test with the tips of its palps the surface 

 over which it walks as though to " feel " whether the 

 material is suitable for food. The maxillary hood serves 

 as a cover for the blade with its sharp teeth or spines, and the 

 blades are of service in further dividing the food, already 

 roughly masticated by the mandibles, into finer particles. 



The earwig's mouth is closed behind by what is often 

 termed its lower lip (Fig, 6, E) (labium). Examination of this 

 organ soon convinces the student that it is composed of a pair 

 of maxilla- like limbs joined together by their bases, for paired 

 blades, hoods and palps, though smaller than their counter- 

 parts of the maxillae, are evident, and the basal plates 

 (mentum and submentum) of the labium can readily be 

 compared with the fused hinges and axes of the maxillae. 



Situated between the two maxillae in the middle of the 

 mouth is the tongue or hypopharynx (Fig. 6, C), a com- 

 paratively soft and membranous organ, yet covered by 

 cuticle beset with closely arranged hairs at the top, sup- 

 ported by a pair of strong chitinous basal pieces, and 

 having a pair of bristly lobes (superlinguae or paragnaths) 

 attached to its front face. Beliind it — that is to say between 

 it and the labium — opens the duct of the salivary glands, 

 to be described later. The hairy tip of the tongue may be 

 regarded as concerned with the appreciation of food taken 

 into the mouth. 



Such jaws as these are adapted for seizing and masti- 

 cating solid food which is passed on into the digestive canal 



