24 



THE REPORT OF THE 



No. 19 



With the term Insect Life we are very familiar. The late Prof. Riley conducted under 

 it, as a title, a publication which is highly valued, as a very treasury of Entomological in- 

 formation. Let us, in our consideration cf Insect Life, transfer to it the meanings above 

 enumerated. 



I. And lirst as to the vital power. Of this it may be said that, as in the case of man, 

 so in that of the inferior creatures, no physiologist has ever been able to make plain to us^ 

 its nature and its seat. We speak of certain organs as vital organs ; and we are able to 

 trace the resjiiratory, digestive, nervous, muscular and reproductive systems ; but the grand 

 power that brings all into play remains a mystery. It came from God ; and, when He 

 taketh away the breath of His creatures, they die and return again to their dust. 



What is the first and ordinary indication by which we judge that an insect is alive ? 

 It is ^ts ability to move. 



We notice on a Basswood an appearance as of a triangle of small twi^s, some brown, 

 some green. We examine it closely and perceive that we have an object before us with a 

 head, and a trunk, and jointed limbs. Is it alive ? The creature stretches out a limb, and 

 we know that it is alive. It is Diapheromera femorata, Say. Fig. 6. 



Again we see on a twig a small creature that in build resembles a Guinea-fowl with 



head and neck extended. It is brown and hard,, 

 and might, you think, be taken for a thorn. 

 Suddenly it spjtings out of sight. You might say 



Fig. 6. Walking-stick insect (original). Fig. 7. Leaf-hopper, much magnified (original). 



of it, as old John Willett said of May-pole Hugh, "You look, and there he is : you look 

 again, and there he isn't ! " 



Or again you see a piece of bark, as you suppose, projecting slightly from the boll of 

 a tree. It is brown and ridged, and has marks as if, at some time, a small twig on either 



