394 The Feet of Insects. 



called a trochanter, which is so closely joined to the coxa 

 as often to have no independent motion, and by some anato- 

 mists is considered merely as a part of that joint. 



It is an interesting observation to make, that these joints 

 have each been modified and varied, not only in the orders, but 

 in the genera, and not in the genera only, but in the species, by 

 shape and aj^pendages that none but a careful naturalist can 

 discover, but which, once observed, cannot fail to teach that 

 pleasant lesson of the inexhaustible power, and infinite con- 

 descension of Him to whom indeed nothing is " little," no work 

 too mean or lowly for a proper finish. In the larval, or im- 

 perfect state, insects have organs of locomotion, varied and 

 curious enough to require a separate paper ; the apodous larvae, 

 or those who walk without legs, have the most astonishing 

 powers of progression, by muscular contraction and extension, 

 by fleshy prominences, by anal hooks, or the use of mandibles, 

 or by circles of spines round every segment of the body. The 

 pedate larvae, or those that move by means of legs, such as 

 caterpillars and grubs of gnats, have spurious legs, tubercles 

 armed with claws, retractile marnillge ; and the larvee of water 

 insects have organs appropriate to that element hereafter to be 

 described. 



Insects in their full development have six legs ; the quasi- 

 insects spiders, have eight ; woodlice (oniscidos) have fourteen ; 

 lulus maximus, a great centipede has no less than 268 ; and it 

 is a curious fact that a perfect centipede (lulus terrestris) 

 increases the number of its legs at every moult for two years : 

 from twenty-six pairs, moulting, and obtaining thirty-six; 

 moulting again, and possessing forty-three; until it prances 

 along with 124 short but perfect legs, each terminating in a 

 sharp claw. 



Although I consider the whole leg of an insect worthy of 

 minute attention, from the mere jointed appendage of a larva 

 to the final form so helpful for many purposes — such as 

 holding the insect's prey, cleansing its body, burrowing in the 

 earth, building its habitation, or collecting its food — and 

 although I cannot help drawing attention to its beautiful struc- 

 ture with all its complex machinery of muscles, nerves, and 

 circulating fluid for the safe and swift movement of ball and 

 socket joints, hinge joints, and rotatory articulation, yet as the 

 last joint of the tarsi is usually considered the most interesting 

 part, we shall confine our remarks as much as possible to the 

 foot itself. 



The fly, the spider, the cuckoo-spit, and water-beetles will 

 furnish us with abundant illustrations of the subject. 



