INTRODUCTION. 



MoiTH OF Caterpillar of Hawk-moth (magnified). 



for suction, as in the Leindoinera (butterflies and 

 moths), Rhyncota (bugs and their allies), and Blptera, 

 or two-winged 

 insects, as flies 

 and gnats. In 

 the Mandibulate 

 or biting insects 

 the mouth con- 

 sists of no less 

 than six separate 

 ■ parts, viz., (1) a 

 pair of horny 

 curved jaws 

 (mandible sj 

 often furnished 



with strong „ upper lIp. ft, Mandibles, c, Maxills. d, Lower 

 sharp teeth; '^''- e, Antennae. /, Eyes. 



(2) another pair of jaws (maxillce) lying beneath the 

 mandibles, generally made up of four parts, formed for 

 chewing and conveying the bitten off pieces of food to 

 the mouth ; these organs generally bear one or two 

 pairs of jointed appendages called palpi, "feelers;" 



(3) an upper Irp or labrum attached to the lower part 

 of the front of the head, and (4) a lower lip or labium 

 with a single pair of palpi. All these parts are readily 

 made out, and I would advise the reader to examine the 

 mouth of almost any beetle, so as to see clearly for 

 himself the several organs ; all that is required is a pair 

 of fine scissors, a lens, and a couple of strong needles 

 set in wooden handles. 



The labium is generally composed of two or more 

 distinct parts, a basal portion called the chin or mentum, 



