No. S.] MUIR — THE MOSQUITO. 465 



THE HEAD AND SUCKING APPARATUS OF THE 



MOSQUITO. 



By Wm. Muir. Esq 

 (Read before the Natural History Society. April 30th, 1883 ) 



The LaLrum, or upper lip or sting, composed of chitine or 

 transparent horny substance, nearly cylindrical, sliohtly tapering 

 and needle-pointed, is i in. long' and at ^-i^ in. from the tip is 

 _4-_ in. dia. at yi-^j in. from the root is o-J-g- in. dia. 



The Labium, under lip or sheath, composed of muscular sub- 

 stance united together in short sections, by which means it can 

 be doubled up under the head when the piercing apparatus 

 (which it encloses) enters the wound and plunges into the flesh, 

 is provided with a strong muscular joint near tlie tip, which 

 clasps the piercing apparatus and holds them in position while 

 doing their work. The tip is composed of two parts which 

 apparently open out and lie on the skin, while the creature is 

 feeding. 



The mandibles, of which thei'C are two, are similar in form to 

 a scythe blade, of the same length as the labrum, and at the back 

 or thickest edge -^-^-^ in. dia. Attached to this structure, and 

 running to near the point is an exceedingly thin striated mem- 

 brane, tlie striae being ^-^-^-^ in. apart, and curved at the ends — 

 the tip is sharp pointed and has six teeth turned inwards like a 

 ripping saw — the upper tooth having a projection of --j/q-o in., 

 the others tapering to the end. The six teeth are in a space of 

 yl-g- io.; above these are seven bent hooks in a space of 2-g-o- in.; 

 in some specimens these latter are like the teeth of a reaping 

 machine. 



The maxilhv, of which there are two, are exceedingly thin 

 transparent flat ribbon-like membranes, uniform width, slightly 

 pointed — the edges at the point serrated — the length same as 

 labrum, o-qqq in- broad and 2"o'_V'oo' ^"- thick. 



The analogue of the tongue, a small hollow tube ^^-^ in. dia., 

 pointed at the end, having a thin membrane on each side. 



These five — the two mandibles, the two maxilla) and the ana- 

 logue of the tongue — lie in the hollow of the cylinder composing 

 the labrum, under it and next the labium. 



The palj^i are club-like, having a small knot at the ends, three 

 jointed, covered with hairs. They are -^ in. long, i^in. thick. 

 ToL. X. DD 2 No. 8. 



