vinal COMMON MISTAKES IN NATURAL HISTORY 337 



insect. A bug is thought to be synonymous with the word in- 

 sect. Strictly speaking a bug is an insect which possesses a 

 sucking-beak and belongs to the order Hemiptera. All bugs are 

 insects but all insects are not bugs. 



In no class were there less than 10% and in three classes at 

 least 35% gave as a difference that insects are smaller. Probably 

 the word connected up with a confusion that exists as to the 

 meaning of the words insect, germ, and bacteria. However, in 

 following the idea up with a request for a list of bugs and a list 

 of insects the list of bugs consisted of erroneous examples, as: 

 potato-bug, rose-bug, etc., along with the true bugs, such as: 

 squash-bug and bed-bug. A less common notion ranging up to 

 20% of the class was that insects fly and bugs do not. A third 

 difference, less pronounced, is that bugs are hard-shelled. The 

 best answers were limited to seven pupils who recognized that a 

 bug is a kind of insect. No one gave a more specific difference. 



What is the Difference Between Daylight and 



Sunlight? 



People are not apt to credit the light of day to the sun. Sun- 

 shine is the direct rays of the sun whereas sunlight and daylight 

 may be direct, indirect or both. 



The following are typical answers: 



1. Daylight is light of day; sunlight, light of sun. 



2. It might be daylight but the sun might not shine. 



3. Daylight is a natural daily occurrence; sunlight only when 

 the sun shines. 



4. Sunlight, the sun shines; daylight, ordinary light. 



5. Daylight is light before sunrise and after sunset. 



6. Daylight comes after darkness but sunlight from the sun. 



What is the Difference Between Shrubs and 

 Small Trees? 



Shrubs consist of several woody stems from the same root. 

 Shrubby and scrubby in early use were often applied to trees 

 having a stunted growth. A small tree has a single main stem. 



The following types of answers form an interesting basis for 

 analyzing the various degrees of mental reactions to the question. 



1. Shrubs are sometimes plants and bushes and not trees. 



2. Shrubs is a cluster of small trees. 



3. All shrubs are not small trees. 



