356 Microscopical Essays, 



The ventricle begins a little above the fourth divifion, where 

 the oefophagus finifhes, and terminates at the tenth 'divifion ; it is 

 about feven times longer than it is broad ; the anterior part, 

 which is the broadeft, is generally folded. 



The folds diminifh with the bulk, in proportion as it ap- 

 proaches the inteftines. A great quantity of nerves cover the 

 furface, it is furrounded by a number of aerial veffels, and opens 

 into a tube, which M. Lyonet calls the large interline. There 

 are three of thefe large tubes, each of which differs from the others 

 fo much, both in ftru&ure and character, as to require a par- 

 ticular name to diftinguifh them ; though this is not the place to 

 enumerate thefe characteriftic differences. 



As moft caterpillars are endowed with a power, or faculty, of 

 fpinning, they are provided with two veffels where the fubftanee 

 is prepared, which, when drawn out, and extended in the air, 

 becomes a filken thread ; thefe two veffels are termed the filk 

 veffels, or tubes ■ in the coffus they are often above three inches 

 long, and are diftinguifhed into three parts, the anterior, the i% 

 termediate, and pofterior. The coffus has alfo two other veffels, 

 which are fuppofed to prepare and contain the liquor by which 

 it diffblves the wood on which it feeds. Thus have we endea- 

 voured to give the reader an idea of the wonderful organization 

 of this apparently imperfect animal. Affuredly, the 4000 * muf- 

 cles employed in the conftruclion of the coffus cannot be 

 confidered without the deepen: aftonifhment ! their admirable co- 

 ordination and junction with other parts equally numerous,, yet 



all 



* Lyonet fur la chenille de fade, p. 584, 



