Library of Natural History, 11. köideRichard Lydekker Riverside, 1901 - 3556 pages |
Common terms and phrases
abdomen adult allied animals antennæ ants appearance appendages attached bees beetles belonging body bugs burrow butterflies carapace caterpillar cell centipedes cephalothorax characteristics claws cocoon color common compound eyes coxæ crabs Crustaceans developed distinguished eggs elytra enlarged Europe feed female figure flies fore-wings front furnished gall gall wasp genera genus grubs habits hairs hatched head hind-wings horny humblebees Hymenoptera illustration inch insects jaws jointed known labium large number larva larvæ latter lice limbs live lower male mandibles maxillæ membranous millipedes moth mouth narrow Natural nest ocelli organs Orthoptera ovipositor pairs of legs palpi parasitic perfect insect plants plate posterior prey proboscis prothorax pupa resemble sawflies scorpions segments sexes shape short shrimps side skin slender sometimes spiders spinning spots structure subfamily suborder surface tail tarsi thorax transverse trees tribe tropical usually wasps weevils wings yellow young
Popular passages
Page 3030 - This was the more remarkable, as we often saw natives carrying over raw meat to the opposite bank with many tsetse settled upon it. The poison does not seem to be injected by a sting, or by ova placed beneath the skin, for, when one is allowed to feed freely on the hand, it is seen to insert the middle prong of three portions, into which the proboscis divides, somewhat deeply into the true skin ; it then draws it out a little way, and it assumes a crimson colour as the mandibles come into brisk operation.
Page 3031 - The mule, ass, and goat enjoy the same immunity from the tsetse as man and the game. Many large tribes on the Zambesi can keep no domestic animals except the goat, in consequence of the scourge existing in their country. Our children were frequently bitten, yet suffered no harm ; and we saw around us numbers of zebras, buffaloes, pigs, pallahs and other antelopes, feeding quietly in the very habitat of the tsetse, yet as undisturbed by its bite as oxen are when they first receive the fatal poison.
Page 2994 - Some were walking slowly about, others were brushing their antennae with their fore-feet; but the drollest sight was their cleaning one another. Here and there an ant was seen stretching forth first one leg and then another, to be brushed...
Page 3031 - All the muscles are flabby, and the heart often so soft that the fingers may be made to meet through it. The lungs and liver partake of the disease. The stomach and bowels are pale and empty, and the gall-bladder is distended with bile.
Page 3030 - ... whose means of locomotion are domestic animals ; for it is well known that the bite of this poisonous insect is certain death to the ox, horse, and dog. In this journey, though we were not aware of any great number having at any time lighted on our cattle, we lost forty-three fine oxen by its bite. We watched the animals carefully, and believe that not a score of flies were ever upon them.
Page 3031 - ... and, do what we will, the poor animals perish miserably. When opened, the cellular tissue on the surface of the body beneath the skin is seen to be injected with air, as if a quantity of soap bubbles were scattered over it, or a dishonest, awkward butcher had been trying to make it look fat.
Page 3031 - The poison-germ, contained in a bulb at the root of the proboscis, seems capable, although very minute in quantity, of reproducing itself, for the blood after death by tsetse is very small in quantity, and scarcely stains the hands in dissection.
Page 3241 - Studer says of the Serolidae that they ' live by preference on sandy ground, into which they burrow with their flat bodies up to the caudal plate. Their nourishment appears chiefly to consist of the organic materials distributed in the fine sand, diatomacea and organic detritus. Their locomotion is carried on less by swimming than by backward movements on the sandy ground, wherein the widely separated feet are used as the point of support.
Page 3031 - ... purging comes on, and the animal, no longer able to graze, perishes in a state of extreme exhaustion. Those which are in good condition often perish soon after the bite is inflicted with staggering and blindness, as if the brain were affected by it. Sudden changes of temperature produced by falls of rain seem to hasten the progress of the complaint ; but in gene'ral the emaciation goes on uninterruptedly for months, and do what we will, the poor animals perish miserably.
Page 3014 - ... by a table, to assail the ankles through the meshes of the stocking, or the knees which are ineffectually protected by a fold of Russian duck. When you are reading, a mosquito will rarely settle on that portion of your hand which is within range of your eyes, but cunningly stealing by the underside of the book fastens on the wrist or little finger, and noiselessly inserts his proboscis there.