337 
CHAPTER XIX. 
Plate XXXII. — the wings of the beetle, awl, sting of 
THE BEE, PROBOSCIS, &C. 
Fig. 1. Is an instance of the horny and gauze wings in one of 
the most beautiful of the beule class of this country, the cetonia 
aurata , or rose chafer; showing the expanded elytra , a,a: the true 
wings, 6, 6. 
Elytra are the wing covers of all the coleoptera order. They 
are frequently grooved, and curiously ornamented, in some spe¬ 
cies w'ith scaly variegations of metallic lustre, as in the diamond 
beetle, and some species of Buprestis. One of the latter, of extra¬ 
ordinary brilliancy, forms an object in the “ Cabinet of Beauty ” 
in the Ashmolean Museum. The use of the elytra is to protect the 
wings and body; and they are of some assistance in flying. 
Fig. 2. A specimen of the elytra covering half the body in the 
ear-wig , (forficula auricularia:) one of the elytra is extended, and 
the membranous wing unfolded ; showing the numerous diverging 
nervures , or “ muscular tendons,” which run in horny tubes, to keep 
the wing extended, a , a, antenna usually consist of a number of tu¬ 
bular joints, with a free motion in each, enabling the insect to give 
them every necessaiy flexure; they vary in number and in shape 
in the various orders, and are covered with hair, down, or bristles, 
frequently elegant and diversified, as every one may observe. En¬ 
tomologists conceive, that the antennae, by a peculiar structure, 
may collect notices from the atmosphere, receive vibrations, and 
communicate them to the sensorium, which, though not precisely 
to be called hearing, is something analogous to it, or may answer 
that purpose. 
Fig. 3. The awl of the oestrum bovis, or gad-fly , highly magni¬ 
fied. It is formed of corneous substance, consisting of four joints, 
which slip into each other: the last of these terminate in five 
points, three of which are longer than the others, and are hooked 
when united, they form an instrument like an auger or gimlet, 
with which the skin is pierced in a few seconds. 
Fig. 4. One of the hooks. 
Fig. 5. The sting of a bee , drawn from nature as it appears by 
means of a magnifier of very high powers: a, a, a, a, the appara¬ 
tus for projecting the sting ; b, the exterior, c, the interior sheath of, 
<4 the true sting , which is divided into two parts barbed at the sides; 
e, the bag which contains the poison . 
Fig. 6. The proboscis of a bee extended; a, a, the case or 
sheath; 6, the tube ; c, the exterior; d, the interior fringes; c, the 
tongue; f /, the exterior, g, g, the interior palpi. 
Fig. 7. The appearance of the proboscis when contracted, and 
folded up. 
Fig. 8. The head of a butterfly, showing the coiled proboscis 
Fig. 9. Ovipositor of the buprestis. 
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