374 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



different appearances presented to us in the insects 

 already mentioned. This pleasure must be re- 

 served for the time when, well acquainted with the 

 generalities of insect history, which alone form 

 the scope and subject of this little work, he feels 

 anxious to study entomology as a science ; and he 

 will find a number of excellent books which will 

 then well repay his attentive perusal, and satis- 

 factorily answer all his inquiries on this and other 

 difficult topics connected with this science. 



It cannot fail to be noticed, that in this descrip- 

 tion of the insect's mouth no mention has been 

 made of its organs of taste. Its eye, and probably 

 ears, and means of touch, have all come before us ; 

 but where, it will be asked, is its tongue ? The 

 little organ mentioned as a part of the insect's 

 lower lip, although strikingly resembling a tongue 

 in some instances, is in others very different from 

 it, and appears in such cases to be quite unfitted 

 to act as the organ of taste. We must, therefore, 

 suppose, that other parts of the lower lip or mouth 

 have the same faculty in addition to the so-called 

 tongue. It is very certain that insects have the 

 faculty of tasting, and also of discriminating be- 

 tween their food; as few will be disposed to 



