130 THE MICROSCOPE. Sept. 



hairs are distributed the whole length of the antennj© 

 (fig. 2). The antenna of the female mosquito is long and 

 clender, having fourteen joints and covered with curved 

 hairs so short that it requires a glass to see them (fig. 3). 



The wings are of much interest; notice the arrange- 

 ment of the veins ; it is by this arrangement that many 

 insects are classified. One of the most marked peculiar- 

 ities of the mosquito is the fringe of hairs around the 

 outer edge of the wing, also the scales along the upper 

 edge of this fringe and on the veins (fig. 4). With a 

 magnification of 150 diameters examine the wing by 

 transmitted light; notice the scales, long and slender, 

 and with a ribbed surface. These ribs extend beyond 

 the surface at the larger end, forming little points (fig. 5). 



Let us place the head of a female in a compressorium 

 and examine it. It consists of a hemisphere nearly cov- 

 ered by two compound eyes. These, with reflected light, 

 look like black velvet globes set with rows of gold but- 

 tons. On the space between them are placed the two 

 antenna3. Between these projects the labium, and at its 

 base the two palpi of three joints each (fig. 6). The 

 labium of the male is provided with an instrument for ex- 

 tracting the sweets from flowers on which he feeds. He 

 never bites. But with the female it is different. It is 

 she who thirsts for blood and her labium is provided 

 with the surgical instruments for obtaining it. 



Now, by a gradual pressure bring the plates of the 

 compressorium closely together and use a high power 

 and transmitted light. We see that the nut-like tip of 

 the labium expands into two concave leaves (fig. 7 b). 

 The outside of these leaves are covered with minute 

 papillse. This is probably a very sensitive organ of 

 touch. Tlie whole length of the labium is covered with 

 scales and with curved hairs. From a groove along the 

 upper side of the labium should come several filaments 

 (but it is difficult to obtain the desired result on account 



