Nebraska advertiser., 1858-08-19
Miscellaneous.
The MuSkGtO.

ing paper, on the common musketo, which
was read some months since, by DIR. SilaS
Durkee, Of Boston, before the Boston
Natural History Society, and afterward
before the American Academy. We
print the article as it was reported for
the Boston Traveller, as part Of the pro-
ceedings of the Natural History Society
DR.. Durkee sad that many years ago
he committed to memory this Latin adage
-"FaS est doceri ab hogte;" and beiley-
inc in the sentiment embraced in his an
cient maxim, he proposed to offer some
remarks upon the CuleT PiPiens-an in
sect Of no mean renown; for day and
night it sings Of blood; it attacks the king
on his throne, the military chieftain on
the field of battle, and the lion III the fo-
rest. 1t is hardly necessary to say that
this insect is regarded by all classes i'll
! the light Of an enemy, at least to our
comfort, for every mans hand Is raised
against it. The animal is vulgarly called
moustique, maringouin, musketo. In the
system of Entomology, Aristotle assigned
it a place in the order Diptera-two
winged-where it still remains.
At a former meeting of the Society,
DR.. d. made some observations upon the
muscular apparatus of the musketo; and
exhibited specimens Of the same which
he had worked out for examination under
/ the microscope. These specimens, thus
studied, appeared to be as perfect and as
elaborate in structure as the same tissue
in the human subject. The motions of
this insect are exceedingly rapid. i ha>
been computed that when flying, It's wings
vibrate 5000 times in a minute.
One of the most remarkable features
/ in the anatomy Of the musketo is, that
the parts which constitute the mouth, are
elongated or produced, as it is technically
termed, 50 as 10 form perfected rOstrum;
that is, beak extending horizontally like
that of some birds. The rostrum Is about
half the length Of the body. To the un-
assisted eye, it appears to be very simple
in It's structure; bat when examined with
the microscope, 1t appears quite other
pieces which appear to be ribbed, and
comparatively thick and stout on one
edge. They can be separated from each
other without much difficulty They vary
in length. They are broad at the upper
part where they are united to the head
When viewed with a magnifying power
of about 400 dameterS, each piece pre-
sents fiat surface which gradually taper
to point Weatwood states that all the
part Of the mouth OF 4 mandibulated in
sect, are observable in the muslleto-
lhera being q broad and hollow, lancet
like piece, representing the upper lip;
pair Of slender piece on the mandltIes
and which are serrated on the outside a
the tip: 4 second pair of more slender or
gans dilated at the base; also, dclicat
needle-like instrument, ribbed up tn
middle, and which, from its situation, /
!. the real analogue Of the tongue. Their
IS also a tubular canal or groove, i
which the parts above mentioned ar
lodged when the insect is at rest. ThI
= groove represents the lover lip.
Cuvier describes the proboscis as com
posed of a membranous, cylindrical tube
terminated by two lips, forming HttI
= button or imitation, and Of q sucker, COZ
slsting of five squamous threads, whic
produces the effects Of a sting. Upo
the two mandibes as described by Wcs
r. wood, DR.. ID. has succeeded in bringin
OUT the teeth at the tip. There are te
on each mandible or Jaw. The Jaws hav
also transverse lines, extending from on
edge to the other throughout their Who'll
length. These markings are cXtrcmeI
delicate, and look not unlike the teeth {
sickle, and are not found on any of Ii
other pieces, which appear to be perfec
- " smooth, and terminate in an eXtremeI
sharp point The two fat, button Iib
bodies at the extremity of the lower Ii
are united to the latter by means Of
ioint. 1t is not difficult to assign the pr
bable use of this Joint, and the butte
like appendages. If the lower lip wei
j. composed of one long piece, its leng
e might prevent the sting from penetrutiT
the skin to the proper depth for the inse
to obtain It's desired food. The Joi
probably allows of a shortening of Il
mp piece by slight bending of the a
pendages attached to the lower extremit
These knob-lille bodies may serve, ais
tor the insect to rest upon while in Il
act of gratifying It's bloodlhirsty prope
sites. As the sting is pushed furth
and further into the skin, the lip ben
;" gradually in front Of the thoraX; and he
We see another provision for facilitate
The efforts of the insect. There IS 81
. a further device which it adopts for pr
-, noting It's objects. As the proboscis e
IN IN ters the skin, the muSketo iniects It's p;
We sonous saliva into the wound This pr
duces immediate irritation, and promot
the flow Of blood tothe spot, and thus fu
nishes q quick supply Of the desired a
ment. The unavoidable mental emou
in the person bitten. contributes likewi
D. u to the same end, 50 that whether we V
Il. or not, we aid our assailant in the accol
ng plishment of It's design.
IN. CR,ier and other natura'ists, say III
the male CuIex does not suck blood; a.
from repeated anatomical examinatio
which he has made with reference to Il
statement, DR.. Durkee is satisfied that
is correct. The male is smaller than t
female, and has no proboscis or sting.