256 INSECTA. 



constituting special organs of touch, adapted to facilitate the appre- 

 hension and to examine the nature of the food. The maxillary 

 feelers (palpi maxillares) are attached to the external margin of 

 the maxillae by the intervention of a small scale and very pliant 

 hinge, and consist of several (sometimes six) distinct but ex- 

 tremely minute pieces articulated with each other. The labial 

 feelers (palpi labiates) are inserted into the labium close to the 

 tongue, or occasionally upon the chin (mentum) itself. The joints 

 in the labial palpi are generally fewer than in the maxillary, but in 

 other respects their structure and office appear to be the same. 



In the suctorial orders of insects we have the mouth adapted to 

 the imbibition of fluid nutriment, and consequently constructed 

 upon very opposite principles ; yet, notwithstanding the apparent 

 want of resemblance, it has been satisfactorily demonstrated by Sa- 

 vigny* that the parts composing a suctorial mouth are fundament- 

 ally the same as those met with in the mouth of mandibulate in- 

 sects, but transformed in such a manner as to form a totally differ- 

 ent apparatus. 



According to the distinguished authors of the u Introduction to 

 Entomology,"')' there are five kinds of imperfect mouth adapted to 

 suction, each of which will require a separate notice. 



(29 6.) The first is met with among the Hemiptera, and is 

 to perforate the stalks and buds of vegetables, in order to 

 procure the juices which they contain ; or in some bugs it 

 is employed to puncture the integument of living animals for a 

 similar purpose. This kind of mouth is exhibited in fig. 113 : 

 first, there is a long jointed sheath (d), 1J3 



which is in fact the lower lip (labium), con- 

 siderably elongated, and composed of three 

 or four parts articulated together; second- 

 ly, there is a small conical scale covering the 

 base of the sheath last mentioned, and re- 

 presenting the upper lip ; and between these 

 are four slender and rigid bristles or lancets 

 (scalpella) (c) that, when not in use, are 

 lodged in a groove upon the upper surface 

 of the sheath so as to be concealed from view. 

 These lancets are, in reality, only the man- 



* Savigny (Jules Cesar), Memoires sur les animauxsans vertebres, 8vo. Paris, 1816. 

 t Kirby and Spence, vol. iii. p. 463. 



