comstock] 



OCTOBER NATURE-STUDY 



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opening in the lower lip of the caterpillar. It seems strange that a 

 caterpillar that has never needed a blanket should be wise enough 

 to spin and weave one to protect itself, when it is no longer a cater- 

 pillar and helpless. 



The pupils should be encouraged to bring in all the kinds of 

 cocoons possible. If the school is in the city, cocoons may be 

 obtained at dealers for a small price. For the care of cocoons 

 see method, p. 334; for the Promethea, use obs. 1 to 6, p. 339; 

 for the study of the Cecropia cocoon, use obs. 1, 2, 3, 3, p. 334; 

 *for the cocoon of the woolly bear, p. 329. 



The black cricket — Early in October these 

 sable little fiddlers are much in evidence, and 

 will live very happily if kept in the school room 

 in a cricket cage, and fed on melon rind or sweet 

 apple or peach. The father cricket is a musician 

 but he will not play his mandolin unless he is 

 sure of an audience, so it is well to put two or 

 three mother crickets in the cage with him . The 

 mother cricket is easily distinguished by the 

 long sword-like ovipositor at the end of her 

 body. The cricket cage may be moved from 

 desk to desk for observation. A few questions 

 may be asked at a time covering the subject 

 matter on p. 373-375. Use obs. on p. 376, 

 dividing the study into about three lessons. In connection with 

 this sing the Cricket Song: 



He's a gay little fiddler bowing low, 



Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp! 

 One wing is his fiddle, and the other is his bow, 



Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp! 

 Sometimes he plays both day and night, 



Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp! 

 But his music's always gay and bright, 



Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp! 

 — From Nature Songs and Stories by Katherine Creighton. 



The peach — In studying a fruit of any sort we must always 

 especially note the seed which after planted will reproduce the 

 plant. In wild fruits the edible pulp connected with the seed is 

 for the purpose of enticing birds and animals to eat, and thus 

 incidentally to scatter the seed. But in the case of fruits used by 

 man, a large amount of pulp has been developed for his delectation. 

 This is true of the peach. 



*Where the name of the book is omitted the reference is to The Handbook of 

 N at ure- Study — Comstock . 



A Cricket Cage 



