INSECT LIFE 



INTRODUCTION. 



THERE are about us on every side myriads of 

 tiny creatures that are commonly passed unnoticed, 

 and even when observed they are usually thought to 

 be unworthy of serious consideration. But all life is 

 linked together in such a way that no part of the 

 chain is unimportant. Frequently, upon the action 

 of some of these minute beings depends the material 

 success or failure of a great commonwealth. 



But insects are of interest to us for other reasons 

 than the influence they may have upon our material 

 welfare ; the study of them is a fruitful field for in- 

 tellectual growth. It is not a small matter to be able 

 to view intelligently the facts presented by the in- 

 sect world, to know something of what is going on 

 around us. And so rich is this field that no one 

 gains more than a mere smattering concerning it. 



We know as yet comparatively little about the 

 minute structures of insects ; the transformations and 

 habits of the greater number of species have not been 

 studied ; and the blood relationship of the various 

 groups of insects is very imperfectly understood. If, 

 therefore, one would learn something of the action of 

 the laws that govern the life and development of 



