32 PRIZE ESSAY : 



Order IV. 

 Hymenoptera. {Hymen, a membrane ; ptera, wings.) 



49. Wasps, bees, ichneumons, flies, &c. Many insects be- 

 longing to this order exhibit very remarkable peculiarities in 

 providing for their young, by laying up a store of food for win- 

 ter use. The busy bee, it is almost needless to mention. Some 

 members of the families into which this order is divided lay up 

 a stock of provisions consisting of larvae, and complete insects 

 by the side of theii* eggs, in holes gnawed in branches and 

 trunks of trees, and sealed up when full. The insects thus im- 

 prisoned do not appear to be quite deprived of life, but only so 

 much injured as to deprive them of the power of resistance to 

 the young larvse, whose food they are designed to be. The 

 admirably constructed cells of the mud wasp, found under the 

 eaves of nearly every house and barn in the country, is filled 

 with a store of spiders for its young. The " wise ant " belongs 

 to this order. Their burrows and mounds may be observed in 

 every garden and field. The natural history of the Hymen- 

 optera is full of instructive and most interesting facts, furnish- 

 ing examples of wonderful instinct and exquisite adaptation. 

 Wings naked and membranous, but not reticulated. 



Order V. 

 Trichoptera. (Trichos, hair ; ptera, wings.) 



50. Caddece flies. 



Order VI. 



Strepsiptei'a. (Strepsis, a turning ; ptera, wings.) 



51. This order embraces a few minute parasitical species. 



Order VII. 

 Hemiptera. {Hetnion, the half; ptera, wings.) 



52. Bugs ; Aphidse, Cicadse, «&c. The peculiarity of the in- 



