150 



INSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



form the grooves in the central piece, whereas they 

 are scooped out in the handles of the files, and play 

 upon two projecting ridges in the central piece, by 

 which means this is rendered stronger. M. Reaumur 

 discovered that the best manner of showing the play of 

 this extraordinary instrument is to cut it oft' with a 

 pair of scissors near its origin, and then, takmg it 

 between the thumb and the finger at the point of 

 section, work it gently to put the files in motion. 



Oviposit-irs, u-itli fili.s, cf T, 



Sinfed. 



Beside the muscles necessary for the niovcnTent 

 of the files, the handle of each is terminated by a 

 curve of the same hard horny substance as itself, 

 which not only furnishes the muscles with a sort of 

 lever, but serves to press, as with a spring, the two 

 files close to the ceniral jtiece. as is shewn in the 

 lower figure. 



M. Pontedera, wlio studied the economy of the 

 tree-hoppers with some care, was anxious to sec the 



