132 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 



that derive their nourishment from decomposed 1 

 table or animal matter. For the most pan, onn 

 two of the membranes which enter into the gener 

 composition of the tunic of the intestinal canal 

 be detected here, the innermost of which is almos 

 corneous and much folded. These folds are not 

 accidental, but are arranged in a certain order, 

 according to the genera and families. The gizzard 

 is wanting in the larvae of all insects which go 

 through a complete metamorphosis. The chylific 

 ventricle, (Plate II. fig. 2 and 3, d.) is the ensuing 

 dilatation of the intestinal canal ; an important cavity 

 which, upon the whole, may be regarded as most 

 nearly corresponding to the stomach of the verte- 

 brata. The above name, assigned to it by M. Leon 

 Dufour, is exactly expressive of its function, which 

 is to contain the food, now reduced to a homo- 

 geneous and impalpable pulp, till it undergo the pro- 

 cess of chylifi cation. Its capacity is considerable, 

 either arising from its width or length. Its termina- 

 tion behind is indicated by the insertion of the biliary 

 vessels, or by a constriction separating it from the 

 small intestine. In form, it is always more or less 

 tubular, or tending to oval, but even within these 

 limits the shape varies much. In the common cock- 

 chafer, (PL II. fig. 3 d,) it is contracted behind into a 

 long tube, and twisted into several circumvolutions 

 a, mode of disposition which it frequently exhibits in a 

 still more complicated manner in some of the other 

 orders. One of the most distinctive and remarkable 

 fharacters of this ventricle, is the palpillee or small 



