94 



THE VITAL FUNCTIONS. 



and jaws, and as having, instead of these parts, an apparatus 

 of very different construction, designed to pierce the skin of 

 animals, and suck their juices, l^ut Savigny, on applying 

 the j)rinciples of his theory, has recognised, in the proboscis 

 of the Cimex, the existence of all the constituent elements 

 that are found in the mouth of insects formed for the masti- 

 cation of solid food. This proboscis consists of four clon- 

 sated filaments, contained in a kind of sheath: these fila- 



ments are represented in Fig. 2GS, se- 

 ])arated to a little distance from each 

 other, in order that their respective 

 origins may be distinctly seen; the one 

 set (q) being prolongations of the man- 

 dibles (j,) and the other set (p) being, 

 in like manner, prolongations of the 

 maxillae (m.) Between these filaments, 

 and near their commencement, is seen 

 a pointed cartilaginous body (g,) which 

 is the glossa, or tongue; and the ajier- 

 ture seen at its root is the passage into 

 the oesophagus. The sheath is merely 

 the elongated labium, of which the 

 base is seen at l, in Fig. 2GS; but is 

 represented, in its whole length, in 

 Fis;. 2G9, where the £!;roove for con- 

 P \q W taining the filaments above described, 

 \ is apparent. 



\ ^^ In the mouths of the Annelida we 



often meet with hard bodies, which serve the purposes of 

 jaws and of teeth. The"retractile proboscis of the Jlphro- 

 dile, or sea-mouse, is furnished with four teeth of this de- 

 scription. The Leech has, immediately within its lips, 

 three semi-circular teeth, with round and sharp cutting 

 edges: they are delineated in P^ig. 262, in their relative po- 

 sitions; and Fig. 2G3 represents one of the teeth detached 

 from the rest. It is with these teeth that the leech pierces 

 tJie skin of tiie animals whose blood it sucks; and, as soon as 



