Hkmtisii Hloodsickkks 255 



(like a canit'l's toctt) on tlic >k\\\ ot the victim. 'I'Ir- 

 j^roovccl and (laj^j^fi-shaped oimaii, in;irkc(l LHK, i> 

 tilt' lahrmn, or upper lip ; and the tube oi" sheath 

 formed by the shuttinj^ together of these two parts 

 encloses all the other orj^ans. Combiiierl, they 

 form a trunk or proboscis, not nidike that of the 

 elephant. lint the elephant is not a bl()t)dsucker ; 

 his trunk encircles no daiiL^erous cutting weapon. 

 It is otherwise with the i^adllv, which has a pair ot 

 >.harp knives within, foi lanciuLj the thick skin of 

 its unhappy victims. These knives are known as 

 mandihhs, and are marked MI) in the sketch, one 

 on either side of the labium. Thev Inst pierce 

 the skin ; the iiiaxi/ur, maiked MX, ot which there 

 are also a pair, then lap up the blood from the 

 internal tissues. Finally, there is the true tonj^ue 

 or /ini^ud, marked L, which is the or^an for tastinj^ 

 it. As to tlie !nnx///(irv p(i//>s, marked MP, thev do 

 not form part of the tube at all, but stand outside 

 it, and assist like hands in the work of manipulation. 

 Tliis is how the mouth looks when fully opened 

 out for microscopic examination. Hut as the 

 tly uses it, it forms a closed tube, of which the 

 labium and the labrum are the two walls, enfold 

 inj^ the lances or mandibles, and the lickers or 

 ina.xilhu, as well as the tonj^ue. Pack them all 

 away mentally, from MX to MX, within the two 

 covers, and von will then understand the nature 

 of the mechanism. Look back at Fi^. B in 

 No. 9, and you will there observe that all the 

 parts in the mosquito answer to those in the 

 gadfly. The long upper sheath is the upper lip : 



