INTRODUCTION. 7 



In this connection we wish to urge the impor- 

 tance of perfect sincerity. The teacher should 

 frankly say I do not know when asked a question 

 that he can not answer, and it will be well if he will 

 add, we will try to find out. Teach the pupils early 

 that any one by intelligent endeavor can add to the 

 sum of knowledge. 



While the chief end of this study is the training 

 of the powers of observation arid the careful ascer- 

 taining of facts in a scientific manner, it seems to us 

 to be well to encourage somewhat an imaginative 

 view of the subject. For this purpose we have in- 

 cluded some poetical references to insects. We be- 

 lieve that the reading of these by the pupils will both 

 stimulate their love of a poetical form of expression 

 and bring them in closer sympathy with the world 

 of life around us. 



