6 ANIMAL BIOLOGY 



In the latter case the windows should, of course, be closed, and this 

 should also be done while watching the insect fly. The flying and 

 feeding experiments with insects make excellent home work if the 

 pupils can readily obtain the live material. Children in New York 

 City have caught and kept butterflies for several months, feeding 

 them twice or three times a week. 



6. Study of a butterfly. Laboratory study. 



A. Regions and appendages. 



Examine a butterfly and distinguish (1) the front or 

 anterior (Latin, ante = before) region called the 

 head; (2) the middle region called the thorax; and 

 (3) the hind or posterior (Latin, post = behind) 

 region known as the abdomen. 



1. Which region is the smallest? Which is the widest? 



Which region is longest? 



2. To which region are the appendages (legs and wings) 



attached? 



3. Which region seems to have no appendages? 



B. Organs of the head; feeding. 



1. Observe two long, slender appendages attached to 



the head; they are called antennce (singular, 

 antenna). State the position of the antennae on 

 the head. Describe the shape of an antenna, stat- 

 ing where it is the thickest (i.e. at the proximal end, 

 which is next the head, or at the distal end, which is 

 farthest from its attachment to the head). 



2. Near the base or proximal end of the antennae find 



the large eyes. State their position on the head, 

 their shape, and their size (as compared with the 

 rest of the head). 



3. Demonstration. Take a living or a relaxed specimen 



of the butterfly, and with the help of a dissecting 

 needle find a coiled structure on the lower or ven- 

 tral surface of the head. It is the sucking tube or 

 proboscis. Gently uncoil it and describe this feed- 

 ing organ as to position and appearance. 



