STINGS OF INSECTS. 



590 



after one or more of the six lancets have pierced the flesh ; 

 it will inflict a severe though minute "wound, the pain of 

 which is increased by an acrid liquid injected into it 

 through a curiously-formed proboscis ; this latter is covered 

 over with feathers or scales. A magnified view of one of 

 these feathers is seen at No. 3. Another scale from a 



Fig. 269. 



1, Head of Culex piplens, Female Gnat, detached from the body. 2. Wing. 

 ' 3, A Scale from the Proboscis. 4, Proboscis and Lancets. The reticulation 

 on each side of the head shows the space occupied by the eyes. The feather 

 or scale from proboscis is magnified 250 diameters 



