104 THE VITAL FUNCTIONS. 



tected by the mandibles, and is projected forwards 

 by being carried on a pedicle, which can be folded 

 back when not in use. The extremity of the pro- 

 boscis is furnished, all round, with a nmltitude of 

 short hairs for taking up the honey. In the state 

 of repose, these hairs lie flat ; but whenever the 

 organ is protruded into a flower, they are raised at 

 right angles to the surface of the proboscis, by some 

 peculiar mechanism, forming around it a thick 

 brush, by which the honey is entangled, and taken 

 into the mouth. 



The mouths of the Acephalous Molliisca are merely 

 sucking apertures, with folds like lips, and without 

 either jaws, tongue, or teeth ; but having often ten- 

 tacula arising from their margins. 



Among tishes, we meet with the family of Cyclos- 

 tomatd, so called from their having a circular mouth, 

 formed for suction. The margin of this mouth is 

 supported by a ring of cartilage, and is furnished 

 with appropriate muscles for producing adhesion 

 to the surfaces to which it is applied ; the mecha- 

 nism and mode of its attachment being similar 

 to that of the leech. To this family belong the 

 Myxine and the Lamprey. So great is the force of 

 adhesion exerted by this sucking apparatus, that a 

 lamprey has been raised out of the water with a 

 stone, weighing ten or twelve pounds, adhering to 

 its mouth. 



Humming birds have a long and slender tongue, 

 which can assume the tubular form, like that of 

 the butterfly, and for a similar purpose, namely, 

 sucking the juices of flowers. Among the mam- 

 malia, the Vampire Bat affords another instance 

 of suction by means of the tongue, which is 



