INSECl'S : TUEIE MOUTHS. 167 



ises tlie unfortunates who have to sleep at some village 

 inn. 



"Well, we put tMs head with its sucker between the 

 plates of the compressorium, upon the microscope-stage. 

 The thread is an organ composed of four lengthened 

 slender joints, beset with scattered bristles, and termin- 

 ating in a point on which are placed a number of ex- 

 cessively minute radiating warts, — probably the seat of 

 some sensation, — perhaps taste. This jointed organ is 

 the under-lip ; it is slit all down one surface, so that it 

 forms an imperfect tube, or furrow, within which lies 

 the real weapon, a wire of far greater tenuity, which by 

 pressure I can force out of its sheath. It is so slender 

 that its average diameter is not more than yaVoth of 

 an inch, and it ends in the most acute point ; yet this 

 is not a single body, but consists of four distinct wires, 

 lying within one another, and representing the maxillae 

 and the mandibles. These can be separated by the in- 

 sect, and will sometimes open when under examination ; 

 but no instrument that I can apply to them is suffi- 

 ciently dehcate to effect their separation at my pleas- 

 ure. Just at the very tip, however, under this high 

 power, we can see, by the semi-transparency of the 

 amber-coloured chitine of which the organ is composed, 

 that there is another tip a little shorter, and as it were 

 contained within the other. This inner point is cut 

 along its edges into saw-teeth pointing backward. 

 Such exquisite mechanism is bestowed upon the struc- 

 ture, and such elaborate contrivance is displayed for the 

 comfort of an obscure and obscene insect, by Him who 

 has not disdaiaed to-exercise his skill and wisdom in its 

 creation ! 



Tou know the stout flies which are denominated 



