46 



COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 



mandibles (b) ; two other jaws, maxillcE (c), of a less 

 firm consistence, bearing a palpus or feeler (d) ; and 

 lastly a lower lip, labium (e), furnished with a pair of 

 palpi (f), and implanted upon a broad, homy, basal 

 piece, which is termed the chin, or mentum (g) . 



The upper and lower lip and the tongue are so 

 analogous to the corresponding parts in the verte- 

 brate animals, that I need not say any thing respect- 

 ing their uses. With the jaws the case is widely 

 different. 



The mandibles or upper jaws are situated on each 

 side and immediately under the labrum or upper 

 lip. The office of mastication peculiarly belongs to 

 them. In some genera they are powerful instru- 

 ments, of a hard substance like horn ; but in " the 

 shard-borne beetle " they are soft and membranous. 

 A corresponding change is observable in the habits 

 of the insects. The former are cannibals, and live 



