WONDERFUL TEETH AND TONGUES 241 



are termed by scientists the maxillary palpi ; their 

 exact function is, however, doubtful without 

 further evidence. They are undoubtedly organs 

 of a sensitive nature, and may be associated with 

 the sense of taste, or smell, or may perhaps indi- 



Fig. 162. Tongue of a butterfly 



cate a sense of which our human experience tells 

 us nothing-. At the base of these palps is the 

 spot where the proboscis unites with the more 

 internal parts. Such is the wonderful proboscis 

 or tongue which the much-abused bluebottle 

 possesses. In the chapter dealing with " Insects' 

 Eggs " I had something to say concerning hover 

 flies. At Fig. 161 is shown the proboscis of one 

 of these flies, which are very active agents in the 

 fertilisation of flowers. The proboscis in this 



