The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1868-01-09

drawn in. These little Openings are
very curiously contriy ed-in some cases
protected by tiny trap doors opening on
hinges, in others having a strong grating
over them of very coarse hairs. Hence,
an insect when cut in two, as he does
not use his mouth for breathing, and as
his brain is not confined to his head,
but runs all through his body, will
live for many hours in this mutilated
state In fact, some insects never eat
mouthful after they are full grown
Insects have from two to Ave eyes.
Two large eyes are called compound
eyes, becausesthey are made up Of many
little eyes united, like q bundle Of six
sided spy glasses tied together, large at
one end and very small at the other, and
looking, under the microscope, like the
meshes of very fine net Then there
are sometimes three little eyes in addi-
ton to the large ones, placed generally
on top of the head, although they occa-
sionally vary-their position. III. b M
All insects are provided with dntesne,
which are those little, many jointed pro-
jections extending from the head near
the eyes somewhat like ;aMReindeer's
horns. These are probably used for
feeling, smelling, and hearing with,
although their uses have not been def
nitely settled. They vary much in ap-
pearance sometimes resembling Indian
clubs, sometimes fringed like asfr-tree,
notch ed like a saw, plumed like a feather,
or armed with teeth like a comb. A few
insects have no wings, others have two,
others four, but none have more than
that numo er.5us>s kA2FTsEafg1
Insects pass through several stages of
existence before they become. fully de
veloped. Most Of them are hatch ed
from eggs; then they pass into the lar
va state, IL which they are caterpillar
maggot, or grub, according as they are
to become butterfly or beetie.ssaI n course
OF time they go into pnpa or mummy
state, from which they emerge ready for
action as perfect insects. sInsome class
es these distinctions are not so strong
ly marked. r,.sr--sz-s~s
On examining q fly with q microscope,
you will find six legs, armed each with
two sharp little toes; two big compound
eyes, covering nearly the whole of the
head, and the three little eyes arranged
in a triangle /; two transparent wings
strengthened by asnet work of veins,
and covered with fine shaiss to protect
them from wear and tear; apair Of tiny
winglets, and on each side of the body
a little knob which aseryes for unknown
purposes. Tn closer examination Of his
mouth you will find a,proboscis or trunk,
like an elephants; !. this is nothing but
the lower lip heightened and armed
with three lsncets, with which it pune
lures its food, or exasperates bald he, d.
ed old getlemen. The end Of the lip is
fattened and grooved like the bottom
of q meat dish for gravy. He is provid-
ed with a fluid which, running down
little canals in his trunk, dissolves solu-
BILE substances, SO that they are easily
sucked up through the same little can
AIS. 5sa 4iacf4~ booa ni sqsa Il d5e : Sd
On examining the foot closely under
tho microscope you will see that it is
armed with two little claws, protected
by feshy pads, covered with r hairs.
Each hair is enlarged at the end, making
little disk, which is kept moist by .
fluid continually exuding. The little
claws catch on the rough point Of any
surface, ana the, moment this is done,
the little disks take hold by their edges,
while their centers are retracted, leaving
vacuum, and thus creating an atmos
pheric pressure which sustains the
insect against the force of gravitation.
While one foot is raised the others
retain their hold, and the rapid move
ment of the six legs along ceiling
shows how swifts.is the instructive action
of this complex apparatus. ,s, -. ,s.s-+
According to Kirby and Spence, the
common house fly, when undisturbed,
makes six hundred strokes with its wing
in a second, and when necessary can in
crease its velocity six fold. ..s Sass
There is one fact ia the natural history
= iss that is generally very little under
STOOD, and what is true Of dies is equally
trac With regard TO all insects. II is
That lies Matched into the winged state
never grow anymore. either smaller or
larger. II he is Matched a small fy.
small he remains all the days of his life
His growing and most of his eating has
been done Ia the larva or maggot state.
Then he leads the life of glutton, eat
ing with apparent relish all most loath-
some things, revealing in all sorts Of i'm /