CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Page 

 Introduction. 

 Instruction derivable from com- 

 mon things 1 



Extraordinary numbers and varie- 

 ties of Insects 2 



Can-be studied in every situation . ?> 



Anecdotes 4 



Cabinets useful, but not indis- 

 pensable 5 



Study of Insects does not narrow 

 the mind ...... 6 



Injuries and benefits caused by 



Insects 7 



Use of names in Natural History. 11 

 Study of Insects fascinating to 



youth 11 



Anecdote of a little girl . . .11 



Beauty of Insects 12 



Varieties in the economy of Insects 14 



States of Insects 16 



Insects produced from eggs . .16 

 Larva, Caterpillar, Grub, Maggot 16 

 Pupa, Chrysalis, Aurelia, Nymph 18 

 /ma^o, perfect Insect . . . .19 



CHAPTER II. 



Structures for protecting Eggs . . 20 

 Eggs of Insects can bear great 



degrees of heat and cold . , 20 



Bees compared to our mechanics . 21 



Mason-Wasps 22 



Curious proceedings of one at Lee 22 

 Her caution outwitted by a Fly . 24 

 Structures of another Mason- 

 Wasp 24 



Her storing of live Caterpillars . 27 



Mason-Bees. ...... 27 



Nest of one on the wall of Green- 

 wich Park 28 



Clay-mine of Mason-Bees at Lee . 29 

 Estimate of their labours ... 31 

 Wall-Mason Bees of France . .31 

 Proceedings of the two-horned 



Mason-Bee at Lee . . . .33 

 Structures of Mason-Bees. . . 34 

 Their restless disposition ... 35 



Mining-Bees 36 



Their different proceedings in 

 Britain and in France . . .36 



CHAPTER III. 



Carpenter-Bees 38 



Methods of working .... 38 

 History of one at Lee . . . .39 

 Violet Carpenter-Bee of France . 40 

 Compared with our joiners . . 42 

 Elder and Bramble Carpenter 



Bees 43 



Carpenter-Wasps 44 



Curious cocoon of. .... 45 

 Upholsterer-Bees ..... 45 

 Poppy-flower Bee of Largs and 



ofBercy 45 



Taste of the little architects in 



ornament 46 



Cotton-gathering Bee .... 48 

 Rose-leaf-cutter Bee .... 50 

 Her method of working ... 50 

 Anecdote of St. Fi-ancis Xavier . 53 



CHAPTER IV. 



Carder-Bees 54 



Method of preparing and con- 

 veying their materials ... 54 

 Structure of their nests ... 56 



