156 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



with a delicate net-work membrane. But perhaps the most 

 striking feature of the whole insect is to be found in the 

 antennas. In the male they resemble very fine feathers or 

 plumes, and when examined under the microscope appear like 

 the branch of a fir-tree. The female is armed with a formid- 

 able instrument — namely, a trunk — with which it punctures the 

 skin of man and beast, for it is only the female that stings, the 

 male being quite a harmless insect. 



This trunk, which appears to the naked eye to be nothing 

 but a simple spike, when examined, proves to be a sheath for a 

 number of lancets, which pierce the skin, and a tube to suck 

 the blood. Under the microscope it presents a rather com- 

 plicated appearance. 



" I St. — There is a long, exceedingly finely-pointed hollow 

 lancet, with a flattened head. R6aumur, in speaking of this, 

 says, 'The point of the finest needle, when compared to the 

 sting of the gnat, is the same as the point of a sword compared 

 to that of a needle.' 



" 2nd. — Two sharp, sword-like blades, which cut the hole 

 made in the skin. 



" 3rd. — Two small saws, with long sharp teeth on one side 

 projecting the reverse way, with a notch and point on the other 

 side. 



" 4th. — An exceedingly fine tube ; so small is this that I have 

 searched for this for hours without finding it, and Reaumur, who 

 only saw five parts in the sheath instead of six, no doubt failed 

 to find this last-named fine tube. 



"To watch a mosquito under a strong glass while she stings 

 you is most interesting, if not pleasant. She first pierces the 

 skin with the finely-pointed lancet, then widens this hole with 

 the sword and saw-shaped blades for a short distance, and places 

 in this hole the tip of the sheath, which bends as the lancet 

 blades and tube descend, the sheath being quite flexible. 

 When the lancet has entered the skin about one-sixth of an 

 inch, the hole is made wider by means of the sword and 

 saw, which all the while are digging at the skin, and thus cut 

 the sides of the hole, causing the blood to flow slightly, whilst 

 from the tube of the lancet a highly irritating fluid is squirted 

 into the wound, which dilutes the blood, thus made thin 

 enough to be drawn up through the minute tube in the gullet. 

 In this way they suck the blood until quite satisfied. 



" The liquid with which the mosquito dilutes the blood of the 

 animal it is sucking is colourless, and highly irritant. Reaumur 

 saw the liquid in the trunk, and it is sometimes to be noticed 

 oozing out of the end of the tube. It is of an acid nature, and 

 therefore ammonia is a good antidote, but perhaps a drop of 

 cold Avater is most efl"ective in stopping the irritation. 



