26 CATERPILLARS AND THEIR MOTHS 



aud through whose hollow tube it sucks the nectar. 

 The tongue is formed by the two maxillae, which are 

 grooved on the inner side and are so held together 

 that the two grooved sides form a tube through which 

 fluids may be sucked, for moths suck the juices of 

 fruit, water, and the liquid of decaying animal matter, 

 as well as nectar. The palpi lie at the outer sides of 

 the tongue, or proboscis as it is also called. They are 

 organs of touch, and possibly of smell also, but the use 

 of their little sense-organs is not yet known. 



The adult moth, except in one or two of the lower 

 forms, has no mandibles. 



The large, faceted eyes are easy to see, but besides 

 these the moth has, in most cases, two ocelli on top of 

 the head between and above the compound eyes. Ex- 

 periments seem to show that even the compound eyes 

 do not give the clear vision which we mean by sight, 

 but that the moth sees moving objects without being 

 conscious of their shape, and can. see large objects as 

 far distant as five feet, but not farther. This is higher 

 power of vision than the caterpillar had, however, for 

 that could distinguish only light and darkness. 



The thorax is horny, carries the six legs and the four 

 wings, has one pair of spiracles, and is covered with 

 scales. 



The legs are jointed, having five segments, and end 

 in claws which enable the moth to cling to its support. 



The wings are membranous sacs, with many veins 

 running through them, and are more or less densely 

 covered with scales of different shapes, sizes, and 

 colors. 



The front edge of the fore wing has a stout chiti- 



