Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-02-22
SMITHSONIAN LECTURES.

/ SMITHSONIAN LECTURES.
Dr. GoADBY resumed the subject Of Nutrition in Insects
on Monday evening, with the demonstration of the nutri
mental organs Of the larve Of the Cossus Lignperda
goat moth. This creature, unknown in This county,
found abundantly in England and throughout Europe II
lives in the caterpillar condition for three years. embedded in
and feeding on the heart Of the willow tree Its savary
gands are of considerable extent with the addition of large
bag connection with each gland the reception
and storage Of the secretion, which required be abundant
to enable the insect upon and assmate such food
the heart Of living The nutrimena canal was then
demonstrated and found to possess CROP very muscular
stomach with its valve Of separation from the short intestinal
canal The hillary tubul Cor iver also seen, their
ducts terminating in the small intestine.
The lecturer stated that the nurmenta organs Of caterp
lars are formed upon the simplest type Of development At
this period of its existence the insect is in strictly nane
condition. and bears closer affinity the class Of worms than
the adult insect and it only in the latter
perfect state that we find the full exhibition Of the
pcated apparatus which the class Of
in the ariculated sub kingdom Feeding upon totally diff
en kind of food the Beetles like the Holsters and crabs
provided with gastric teeth teeth placed within the
cavity of the stomach.
In preparation Of the crop Of beetle (Dytics Margi
nas) four triangular bodies pointed out and described
teeth based upon and supported by dense bony
ture. In the omnvorous BLatta americana American
cockoach six teeth sing the elements OF cutting and
grinding teeh described which we're supported by bony
ubecles and other supporters Of like kind In these insects
another accessory glanduar apparatus is found which Pc
cua them and other leathey winged insects such the
locusts gasshoppes and crckes consists of eight tubes
of large internal capacity, communicating with the true d.
gesve stomach analogous in form and position to the tubes
around the pyorus Of fishes and allied in function, most
likely, to the panceas sweebread Of and the
malta. la
The extensive and perfect development of gastric
teeth and indeed Of the entire numental apparatus is found
in the locusts and their congener In dissection Of the
Locusta dissa, the savary glands seen in granu
lar obula,ed condition. being step in advance Of the sim
pie tubular already with. large collecting bag crop
was pointed out and described the analogue Of the first
stomach paunch Of the herbvoous quaduped 10 this
ceeded round organ peculiar form, consisting in its inner
surface Of less than hundred and twenty-five teeth,
which clearly demonstrated in subsequent preparation,
the whole being supported by six bone which compared
to the streches of umbrella The digestive cavity
receives the food after has passed the ordeal of these
markabe teeth, and by its gastric fluid and the pancre
attic secretion (hese insects in with the cockroaches
possessing the latter gland the feod reduced to pup
chyme and passed into the nesne where the bile
ted by the liver and poured abundany by its ducts into this
part Of the apparatus separates the nutrient particles destined
to support the body.
In addition to the organs accessory the nutrimental
function accessible to and the mammaa, unaided
vision, in and the mammaa there nnumerable glands
minute require microscope to reveal them These
found abundantly in the nurmental organs Of
insects the majority Of which, however, far minute
for by oxyhydrogen microscope but in the
lLrLr
distinct that the lecturer able show them clearly by
dissection brief history of the powers Of mischief delega
ted TO the ocusts also gven and reference made the
account Of their proceedings recorded in the Bible
of the punshments Of the Egyptians.
The nutrimenal organs Of aquatic tree bug, (Nepa
Cinerea) waerscopion, next exhibited. Subsing
solely upon fluid amen which may be either the sap of
plants or blood Of animals there necessity for gastric
teeth The pairs Of saivay glands and
long atenuated asophagus which is continuous with the
external tubular sheath in which the brses contained
These brses, after having wounded the plant ANIMAL
move coectedy up and down in the sheath like the piston of
pump conveying the fluid into the sophagus which
mits it to the stomach.
Other insects provided with suctoa mouth for procur-
ing fluid food such bees butterflies and winged flies
are provided with internal structure which may be called
pumping stomach. 1t always contains small quantity Of
atmospheric air The insect by relaxing the powerful
ces Of its chest relieves the from the air contained in
the stomach, which instantly expands, at the instant
creating vacuum in the tube which extends from to the
termination of the external oval apparatus At This
the fluid food rushes up the tube to point where short
rghangled tube the first with the crop; the
traction pumping stomach prevents the food continuing
it's course towards the destined to this Junction. and drives
it into The right angled tube through valve into the crop;
the valve then closes prevent regugaion and thus by
the alternate dataon and contraction pumping stomach
plentiful supply Of food is obtained This apparatus was
illustrated by preparation Of the nutrmenal organs Of the
aeshhy (usca Carnaria in which the salvay glands and
liver were found to be Of very great extent
The next lecture 10 continuation Of this will be de-
livered on Friday Of this week.
In the last report Of DR.. GoADBrs lecture there
Typographical error by which the phenomenon OF stomach
possessing double function ascribed to bat instead Of
| a rat.
| A MEXICAN HOUSE, Hanover street, Boston.--
The Undersigned having entirely rebuilt and enlarged
the above extensive establishment containing in all about
three hundred and fifty would respectfully give notice
that ready for the reception and accommodation OF
the travelling community. ,.#
An extended Of the unsurpassed convenences of this
house deemed superfuous the numerous improvements
which have been made be properly given adver
ement Suffice that expense been spared to
render every apartment perfect
The made expressly order regardless OF
a.