ZOOLOGY, 



191 



strong ill the different kinds, in som8j approaching to horn. 

 Besides, the preceding Insects possess some parts which are 

 peculiar to themselves, and are not found to belong to any 

 other description of Animals ; as the Antetmce or Hoens, 

 which are situated on the fore part of their heads, and oJier 

 a principal distinguishing character, they are jointed and 

 moveable in every part, in which particular they differ from 

 the horns of other animals ; that they are organs of sensc^^ 

 is apparent, from their perpetually moving therii forward ; 

 yet the hard coat with which they are invested, and their ex- 

 treme shortness in some genera, would induce an idea that 

 they are not the perceptive organs of touch or feeling ; the 

 generally received opinion is, that they are the instruments 

 or organs of hearing, but this is not satisfactorily explained ; 

 they differ greatly in form, in the different tribes, from whicli 

 circumstance they offer convenient characters, on which to 

 found the respective genera. The Palpi or Feelers, are 

 another peculiarity attached to Insects ; they are mostly in 

 pairs, in some kinds four, and in others six : they are short, 

 jointed, and moveable, but destitute of the coating or crust 

 observable on the Antennae; they are situated on each side 

 the Mouth. 



The Mouth is situated at the fore-part of the head, inclijti- 

 ing downwards, in some kinds it is placed quite under the 

 breast, as in the genus Curculio : it varies greatly in form ; in 

 some of the Beetle tribe, the inner edges are furnished with 

 strongly notched or serrated jav/s, having the appearance of 

 teeth, which is also the case with some of the Locusts, and 

 other genera; some tribes possess two, and others fourjaws; 

 in a few kinds, the mouth is drawn out to a rigid point; in niauj 



