*A METHODS OF INSECT LIFE. 



is in each case an insect, and that insects begin their 

 lives by being either- produced aHve or hatched from 

 an egg as maggots or caterpillars, or in some other 

 wingless shape ; and that gradually, through various 

 changes in the nature of the inside organs, and 

 changes of appearance caused by moults of the outer 

 skin, they alter to the state of the perfect insect. But 

 without going into very minute details, such as can 

 only be observed with the help of powerful magnifying 



Fig. 2. — Hornet. 



glasses, or described by words not generally under- 

 stood ; we know so much of the precise definition of 

 what an insect is as to enable us to distinguish it 

 certainly from spiders, mites, woodlice, julus worms, 

 or other creatures often found in company with insects, 

 and often known as " insect allies." 



An insect (in its perfect stage), typically considered, 

 is in-sected or cut into three distinct parts, namely, 

 head, fore body or thorax, and hinder body or abdo- 

 men ; the head is furnished with two horns, or an- 

 tennae, besides eyes, and jaws, or suckers, for feeding 

 purposes ; the thorax is commonly supplied with 

 cither one or two pairs of wings, and also with three 

 pairs of legs ; the abdomen contains the digestive 

 organs, &c. Insects throughout their lives, that is, 

 throughout all their three successive stages, — whether 

 of grub and maggot ; or chrysalis ; or perfect winged 

 and six-legged creature, — are annidose, that is, are 



