154 



THE VITAL FUNCTIONS. 



The alimentary canal of the Cicinchla campcstris, (Lin.) 

 which preys on other insects, is represented in Fi^^. 31S; 

 where we see that the lower part of the oesophagus (o,) is 

 dilated into a crop (p,) succeeded by a small gizzard (g,) 

 which is provided for the purpose of bruising the elytra, 

 and other hard parts of their victims: but, their mechanical 

 division being once efiected, we again find the true digesting 

 stomach (s) simply membranous, and the intestine (i) very 

 short, but dilated, before its termination, into a large colon 

 (c.) The hepatic vessels (ii,) 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 commences. 



A more complicated structure is exhibited in the alimen- 

 tary tube of the Meloloniha vidf^aris^ or common cock- 

 chafier, which is a vegetable feeder, devouring great quanti- 

 /lies of leaves of jjlants, and consequently requiring a long 



