INTRODUCTION. 57 



shape than among butterflies ; indeed, it has been 

 asserted that they assume a different form in each 

 species. This, however, is by no means the case, 

 hut they are frequently dissimilar on different parts 

 of the same individual. Many of them are so long 

 and slender that they have the appearance of hairs, 

 but the application even of a faint magnifying power 

 shows that they are more or less dilated at the tip, 

 and frequently bifid, trifid, or palmate. Of this 

 nature are the kinds composing the hair-like tufts 

 and crests on many of the noctuidse, as may be seen 

 by examining the gamma-moth (Plusia gamma), 

 a common species in most parts of the country. 



The proboscis is apparently of the same structure 

 as in the day-flying tribes, and presents nothing 

 peculiar in its appearance. It is seldom of great 

 length, and in many instances it is merely rudi- 

 mentary, while in others it is altogether wanting. 

 The Swifts or Ghost-moths (Hepiali), the Goat- 

 moth, and many others, are so circumstanced, and 

 they are probably in consequence incapable of taking 

 any nutriment. Moths are occasionally observed to 

 feed on solid substances, such as sugar; this they 

 are enabled to do in the same manner as flies 

 (Diptera), by discharging a liquid from their trunk, 

 which softens and dissolves the particles till they 

 become sufficiently fluid to be absorbed. 



The palpi generally consists of three joints, but 

 in some cases, as in the genus Lithosia, they are 

 only two jointed. These organs are sometimes very 

 diminutive, but in general they are well developed, 



