184 



Introduction to Botany. 



and store nectar for themselves or their young, but take 

 only what they immediately desire for food. They do not, 

 on the whole, seem to require much food in the imago or 

 butterfly state (the student will remember that in the first 



stage of their existence 

 after hatching from the egg 

 they are caterpillars), al- 

 though they are sometimes 

 so eager for the 'nectar that 

 they may be caught in the 

 hand while obtaining it. 



The organ by means of 

 which the nectar is secured 

 is known as the proboscis ; 

 it is long and slender, and 

 contains muscles, nerves, 

 and air tubes, and a cavity 

 for sucking up liquids (Fig. 

 99, A and B). When the 

 proboscis is not in use, it is 

 tightly coiled like a watch 

 .,,.,,. f .1, u J t spring, and tucked away in 



A, longitudinal diagram of the head of a ^ °' -' 



Butterfly. 0, s, f, g, muscles operating Small space beneath the 



the suction apparatus ; r, the proboscis, 



the dark band indicating the suction 



cavity ; t, oesophagus ; B, cross diagram and I O4). 



of butterfly's proboscis. The central 



cavity is for suction and the lateral cavi- 



FlG. 99. 



head (compare Figs. 97 

 The proboscis 



is very flexible and is ad- 

 ties carry muscles, nerves, and air tubes, mirably constructed for 

 After Burgess. ... , . 



probmg for concealed nec- 

 tar or for reaching to the bottom of flowers with long tubes, 

 such as those of the morning glory, petunia, etc. Flowers 

 which are especially adapted to butterflies and moths (the 

 difference between butterflies and moths being inconsequen- 

 tial) are so constructed that the proboscis comes in contact 



