28 EXTERN AL ANATOMY OF INSECTS. 



worthy of remaik. The disk and feeler-beaver are closely 

 connected, tiie suture uniting them being obliquely longitu- 

 dinal. In treating of these parts, I believe it will be better to 

 consider them but as one. Their distinctness is more clearly 

 to be discerned from actual examination of the objects them- 

 selves, and from the accurate plates of Straus-Diirckhcim, 

 Savigny, &c., than from any verbal description. The blade is 

 long, slender, pliable, and capable of rolling up like an Ionic 

 volute, or the main-spring of a watch. This is a principal cha- 

 racter of the class. When at rest, the blade appears to be a 

 small ring, and is situated between the labial feelers. Each 

 blade, when examined, is found to be externally convex, 

 internally concave ; so that the two, united together in front, 

 form a tube. Through this tube, the honey of flowers is drawn. 

 Each blade is also in itself a tube. The organ formed by 

 the union of the two is very elastic ; and, if artificially drawn 

 out to its full length, will, on being loosed, instantly return 

 to its natural position. The maxillary feelers are by no means 

 a prominent portion in the mouths of Lefiidoptcra. They 

 are situated one on the feeler - bearer of each feeler -jaw. 

 Reaumur, a hundred years ago, noticed the maxillary feelers of 

 Lepidoptera ,"■ and figured them very accurately ; but Savigny 

 appears to have been the first scientifically to ascertain their 

 identity. Though not prominent, they afford the best charac- 

 ters for dividing this class that we at present possess. The 

 galea, or helmet, is still undiscovered. In the Spliingitcn 

 I find no feeler: I conclude, tlierefore, it is nearly obsolete. 

 In Zygeena, Ino, Glaucopi.s, Pijrausta, and all the PuraUtes 

 and Crambites, it is distinctly visible, generally without a glass, 

 and appears to be typically three-jointed. In the Tortiiciles 

 and Tineiles the maxillary feelers are less distinct, but always 

 present. In the Nochnlcs they are small and two-jointed. 

 In the Gcometrites they are still less conspicuous. In the 

 PajdUonites, less still : in Amaryssus Machaov, obsolete.'' 



° Dnns la figure on ]H'ut rcmarqucr deux barbes plus ecartees Tune de Tautre 

 que ne le sont commun^ment celles des autros papilluns : deux filets places eiitre 

 les barbes, et diriges dans un sens contraire it celui oil les barbes Ic sont — 

 R((iumur. 



'' Savigny's figure of tbe maxillary feeler in /Inmrysstis Maclmon represents 

 ratbcr the site of tlie feeler, tlian tlic feeler itself I liave hunted for it in vain 

 in tlie specimens I have dissected. 



