188 



THE VITAL FUNCTIONS. 



hard parts of their victims : but, this mechanical 

 division being once effected, we again find the true 

 digesting stomacli (s) simply membranous, and the 

 intestine (i) very short, but dilated, before its ter- 

 mination, into a large colon (c). The hepatic 



vessels (h), of which, in this insect, there is only 

 one set, terminate in the cavity of the intestine by 

 four ducts, at the point where that canal com- 

 mences. 



A more complicated structure is exhibited in the 

 alimentary tube of the Melolontha vulgaris, or 

 common cockchaffer, which is a vegetable feeder, 

 devouring great quantities of leaves of plants, and 

 consequently requiring a long and capacious canal 

 for their assimilation ; as is shown in Fig. 319, 

 which represents them prepared in a manner similar 



