108 INTRODUCTION TO 



appears as a triangular piece interposed betvvee 

 the wings at their base; it is very conspicuous 

 most beetles, and, in the heteropterous section of th 

 hemiptera, it is sometimes so large (as in Tetyra, Fab 

 as to cover the whole abdomen, having both th 

 hemelytra and the wings beneath it. In certa 

 cases there is no indication of the scutellum on th 

 surface, in consequence of it being covered by th 

 elytra and pronotum, but it is always present, a 

 though the insects in question (Copris may be give 

 as an example,) have been called exscutellati, or des-j 

 titute of a scutellum. A strong membrane or procesi 

 may be frequently observed connecting the scutellum 

 with the elytra or upper wings, and acting as a kino) 

 of counter-check to the latter during flight. Thia 

 is best seen in the great lanthorn-fly, (Fulgora 

 lanternaria,} where there is a flat plate on each sid 

 of the scutellum, with a ridge or nervure running 

 along it to the base of the tegmina, which nervura 

 consists of a number of cartilaginous rings, and thereby 

 admits of tension and relaxation, as the tegmin*) 

 rise and fall. The part in question has been named 

 thefrenum or bridle. 



The scapuke constitute the second principal por-j 

 tion of the mesothorax. They lie close upon the me-; 

 sonotum, one on each side in front, assisting to fora! 

 the articulating socket of the superior wings; the\ 

 then contract themselves, in order to pass into the 

 cavities of the prothorax, and, with their opposite 

 wing, they pass down the sides of the second thoracic 

 segment. They admit, therefore, of being regardec 



