EXTERNAL ANATOMY OF INSECTS. 451 
with Cuvier and others, but adhere to the original term, 
which every one understands. 
The tongue lies between the two lips—the /abrum and 
labium. On its upper side, at the base, it meets the pa- 
late or roof fo the mouth, below which it is attached, it 
may be presumed, by its roots to the crust of the head, 
on each side the pharynx or swallow ; and on its lower 
side, in many cases, it is attached to the /abzum, and that 
very closely, so as to appear to be merely a part of it, 
and to form its extremity: but in the Orthoptera and 
Libellulina, it is more free, and in form somewhat re- 
sembling the tongue of the quadrupeds *.—In substance 
the tongue varies. In general it seems something be- 
tween membrane and cartilage; but in the Predaceous 
beetles, in which it is not covered by the labcum, it ap- 
proaches nearer to the substance of the general inte- 
gument, and in Anthza it is quite hard and horny :— 
that just mentioned of the. Orthoptera and Libellulina 
is more fleshy®. With regard to its station, in many 
cases, as in the instance just named, in the Petalocerous 
beetles and others, it is, when unemployed, concealed 
within the mouth; the lips, mandibles, and maxillee all 
closing over it. The tongue of some Hymenoptera also 
is retractile within the mouth. ‘ When ants are dis- 
posed to drink,” says M. P. Huber, “there comes out 
from between their lower jaws, which are much shorter 
than the upper, a minute, conical, fleshy, yellowish 
process, which performs the office of a tongue, being 
pushed out and drawn in alternately: it appears to pro- 
ceed from the lower-lip.—This lip has the power of 
* Prate VI. Fic. 6, 12. e'. Cuvier Anat, Compar. iil. 347. 
® Cuvier Ibid. 
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