. British insects : a familiar description of the form, structure, habits, and transformations of insects. 134 INSECTS. by filling the vessels which run through the wing-nervesstretches the wing to its full size. Fig. This explanation is partly guess-work, for nothing isknown of any internal arrangement by which the air maybe pumped into the wings instead of being forced out ofthe body, but any one who has watched the simultaneousreduction of the apparently inflated abdomen and theapparent inflation, or at least expansion, of the wings,could hardly fail to receive this impression. That bl
. British insects : a familiar description of the form, structure, habits, and transformations of insects. 134 INSECTS. by filling the vessels which run through the wing-nervesstretches the wing to its full size. Fig. This explanation is partly guess-work, for nothing isknown of any internal arrangement by which the air maybe pumped into the wings instead of being forced out ofthe body, but any one who has watched the simultaneousreduction of the apparently inflated abdomen and theapparent inflation, or at least expansion, of the wings,could hardly fail to receive this impression. That bloodis forced into the wings during this period is proved bythe fact that insects of some kinds will bleed freelythrough a prick inflicted on the wing whilst it is in the NEUROPTERA. 135 act of expanding, although later the wings may beactually cut or pulled oft without any apparent injury tothe insect beyond their loss. While the wings are expanding the Dragonfly assumesa peculiar attitude, so curving its body as to prevent thepossibility of any contact between it and the soft delicateyoung wings. The process of emerging from the pupa is exceedinglyinteresting to observe, and it has a curious eftect to seethe newly
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Keywords: ., bookauthorme, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectinsects
