2 LEriDOrTERA. 



fnl insects — take no food of any description while in the 

 perfect state. 



Those species in which the tongue is present are also 

 provided with a pair of organs called palpi, attached to the 

 labium or lower lip, which project from the front of the head 

 in snch a manner as to conceal and protect the tongue when 

 it is coiled up and out of use. These palpi are three-jointed, 

 but extremely varied in form and proportions ; consequently 

 they are useful to the student for purposes of classification. 



Above and outside these are two large eyes, each consisting 

 of a number of divisions or facets, and so placed as to command 

 a wide range of vision. 



Two small elevations behind them are called ocelli, and are 

 thought to be simple eyes, but they seem unnecessary for 

 such a purpose, and their use is not clearly understood. 



Slightly above, and nearer together than the large eyes, are 

 placed two horns, feelers, or antennaj, more or less flexible, 

 and divided into numerous joints. As a general rule they 

 are not used as feelers, except that probably by their 

 perception of the atmosphere the direction of flight is affected, 

 and, unless for this purpose, the insect appears to make little 

 use of them. But to the student they are invaluable, since 

 by their structure he determines at once whether the insect 

 before him is a butterfly or a moth. Their structure varies 

 in an extraordinary manner, especially in the male sex, but 

 is constant in each species. 



The head, which is covered with hair-like scales, is united 

 by a slender neck to the thorax, the strong muscular portion 

 of the body in which are situated the muscles required for 

 locomotion, and to which are attached the four wings and the 

 six legs. The thorax is generally more or less oval, rounded 

 above or sometimes flattened, and by its breadth and strength 

 is determined the degree of swiftness and power of wing of 

 the species. 



The abdomen is articulated to it by a small waist, which in 

 butterflies usually becomes thicker somewhat gradually, but 



