INSECTS. 



139 



and manuf;icturo. About the year 550 the eggs were brought 

 to Constantinople, thence they were introduced into Italy, and 

 under the auspices of Henry IV. of France, the cultivation of 

 silk was commenced in his dominions. In its various states, 

 it now constitutes in many parts of the world so important an 

 article of commerce, that the learned authors, from whom we 

 have taken these particulars, remark, " that when nature 



-" Set to work millions of spinning worms, 



Tliat in their green shops weave the smooth-hair'd silk, 

 To deck her sons." — Milton. 



she was confening on them a benefit scarcely inferior to 

 tliat consequent upon the gift of wool to the fleecy race, or a 

 fibrous rind to the flax or hemp plants." 



HEMIPTERA.* 



Fig. 12G.— Pe:«tatoma 



(lower SCBPACE).t 



Fig. 127.— Haiys 



(UPPER surface). 



In the insects belonging to this order the mouth is formed 

 for abstracting the juices of animals or plants {Fig. 126). 

 The wings are four in number, partly overlapping each other, 

 and with the portion towards the base of each whig tougher, or 

 more coriaceous than the other portion, which is membranous. 

 In some genera the coriaceous part is so small as to be incon- 

 spicuous; and such insects hiive, by modern entomologists, 

 been separated from the others, and designated by a term 

 expressive of uniformity in the appearance of the wings. An 

 example of this structure is afforded by an insect, whose name 



* Half--\vinged. About 150 Irish species. 



t This figure exhibits the shape and jointed structure of the proboscis, 

 and its position when not in use. The legs and antennae are represented 

 as cut ofT near the base 



