THE MICROSCOPE AND INSECT LIFE 



we shall see that there are minor differences 

 amongst them though their general plan is similar. 

 Sometimes we find a simple pair of claws on each 

 foot, in other cases each claw has a little spur, 

 whilst spiders, which, by the way, are not insects, 

 have comb-like claws. The foot of the house-fly is 

 not only provided with a pair of claws, but also 

 with a soft fleshy pad, by means of which it is 

 enabled to climb window panes and similar smooth 

 surfaces. If we are fortunate enough to obtain a 

 specimen of a louse, human or otherwise, we must 

 not fail to notice its strong grasping claw, used for 

 taking a firm hold of the hair of the creature on 

 which it lives. Such objects are better examined 

 under a high magnification, along with a hair, 

 then the actual method of grasping may be 

 observed. 



The feelers of some insects are interesting; those 

 of gnats we have already mentioned, but they may 

 be examined in detail. Those of beetles are of very 

 diverse form; some are thread-like, some clubbed, 

 some fan-shaped. Moths, too, have many curious 

 designs to show. Some of these feelers, when highly 

 magnified, may be seen to be pitted — hundreds of 

 little sunken areas are scattered over their surfaces, 

 and it is probable that they are connected with a 

 sense of smell. In that case the feeler is a more 

 important organ than one might surmise from its 

 popular name. 



The hairy clothing of insects need not delay us 

 long. Most interesting of all are the feathered hairs 



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