402 



THE ANIMALS AND MAN 



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Fig. 201. Sucking proboscis of a sphinx 

 moth; in small figure (the head of 

 the moth seen in profile) the proboscis 

 is shown coiled up on the under side of 

 the head, the normal position when not 

 in use. (One half natural size). 



hdrses and sheep have teeth for biting 

 off and crushing dry or green plant 

 food, while many insects, like the 

 plant-lice and various flower-bugs, 

 have a tiny, sharp, hollow beak, which 

 they thrust into a green leaf or stem, 

 and through which they suck up the 

 sap. Similarly with those animals 

 which feed on animal matter. Lions, 

 tigers, dogs, and cats have strong 

 teeth for tearing and broad teeth for 

 crushing the flesh of other animals, 

 while the mosquito, flea, and other 

 insects which live principally on ani- 

 mal blood have a piercing and suck- 

 ing beak. 



But animals must first obtain their 

 food. Giraffes get theirs from high 

 trees and they have wonderfully 

 long necks to enable 

 them to reach up; the 

 moths and butterflies 

 which feed on nectar 

 from flowers have long, 

 slender sucking- tubes 

 with which to reach 

 down to the base of a 

 flower-cup. The com- 

 mon hawk-moths or 

 humming-bird moths that 

 hover over petunias and 

 other deep-cupped flow- 

 ers have sucking-tubes 

 three or four inches long 

 (fig. 201), and a famous 



