209 



then cut their way out by diverging, then retract, and finally suck in the same 

 way as the blow- fly does. 



The so-called false tracheae are the channels through which the blow-fly feeds, 

 and act as filters to his food. They can be closed up at pleasure of the insect 

 by some 40 or 50 teeth, so that no solid food pan pass. In the gullet is a 

 suction and force pump, a wonderful organ of great power, and thus we see the 

 need of a filtering organ, without which the fly would choke ; not in the sense 

 that one of the higher animals would cboke, inasmuch as insects do not 

 breathe by the mouth but by the apparatus provided by the spiracles and tracheae, 

 but by reason of its being unable to feed. 



In butterflies and moths the structure is again much modified. The tube 

 of the mouth is formed by the lateral organs, probably by the maxillce, and 

 is a hollow, jointed, and muscular organ, like that of the bee. So far as we 

 know no butterfly or moth has a true tongue. In them the tube opens below, 

 and goes right up to the mouth. They have only 2 palpi— no other mouth organs, 

 and their use is to clean the proboscis, to which they form fleshy cushions. The 

 tongue, when not in use, is rolled up into a spiral, but when in action, all the 

 muscles straighten out, and form a tube for suction. The locality of the 

 suctorial power has not yet been determined, but probably the mouth cell acts 

 as a kiud of pump. 



Time will not allow of more being said as to their uses to other creatures. 

 These are in many cases no doubt purely accidental, or it may be that plants 

 have been modified, many of which are incapable of producing seed, unless 

 visited by moths. There are a remarkable number of plants which are fertilised 

 by nocturnal moths. The tongue of the bee is no doubt adapted and essential 

 to the fertilisation of many, still we can well see that the lapping action of the 

 bee is not so well adapted to this end as the delicate poising of the tongue of the 

 moth. Time, however, forbids our going further into the consideration of this 

 matter, and in conclusion the speaker thanked the members for the attention 

 with which they had favoured him.* 



Dr. Braithwaite proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Lowne, and said that 

 so interesting a communication would, he was sure, prevent the members pre- 

 sent from feeling any ragret at there being no paper for the evening. 

 The vote of thanks was then put, and carried unanimously. 

 A spirited discussion then followed, in the course of which 

 Mr. Mclntire asked the use of the various appendages to the antlia, which in 

 some moths were entirely wanting. 



Mr. Lowne replied that it was quite possible that they were tasting organs, 

 as it is clear that from the nature of its food the moth cannot taste with its 

 palpi. 



In reply to personal thanks, and to questions put by Mr. James Smith, 

 Mr. Lowne stated that he had omitted to say that with regard to the organs at 

 the extremity of the proboscis, there was in Nature, six weeks ago by H. Miiller, 

 an article on fertilisation of plants by insects, illustrated by drawings of the 

 various organs. He would not say tbat the organs referred to were organs of 

 taste, but as regarded their structure simply, they were undoubtedly modified 

 scales. 



After some further remarks by Mr. Mclntire and Mr. Ingpen, with reference 

 to modification in particular cases, 



Mr. Loy asked whether Mr. Lowne did not agree that the mandibles of the 

 Stag-beetle were used to obtain juice from the plants upon which they feed. 

 * Mr. Lowne illustrated his remarks by bold, yet aecnrate, sketclies on the black board. 



