144 GRAMMAR OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



compositus) when it has a long pear-shaped cell 

 opening from it, and extending beneath the stomach 

 and intestines, yet having no communication with 

 either : this is the case in all the flies and gnats 

 which feed on blood, and many of the same 

 tribes which subsist on other fluids : the blood 

 sucked is at once received into it ; and, as enough 

 is frequently swallowed at a single meal to last for 

 days, it returns slowly to the gullet as required, 

 and then passes to the stomach for digestion. 



544. The stomach (ventriculus) receives the 

 food immediately from the gullet, digests it, and 

 passes it on to the intestines. 



545. The food immediately on entering the 

 stomach, combines with, or is pervaded by, some 

 fluid secreted by the stomach ; this fluid probably 

 serves to assist in digesting the food, for it imme- 

 diately undergoes a change in consistence as well 

 as colour. 



546. The stomach varies greatly in the form 

 and nature both of its main cavity and of the 

 numerous appendages with which it is occasionally 

 furnished. 



547. The stomach is simiple {ventriculus simplex) 

 when it is a mere continuation of the gullet in an 

 enlarged form, being slightly restricted at the 

 union with the gullet, and more so at its junction 

 with the intestines, where an elastic ring is 

 placed, which, when contracted, nearly closes the 

 aperture. 



