56 NATURE STUDY. 



effort. They rejoice in new and strange words, as in rich 

 acquisitions to their treasure stores, and it is only after 

 the joy of possession has been turned to bitterness by rid- 

 icule of their first attempts at pronunciation and applica- 

 tion that they fall back upon words of one syllable as 

 affording a possible escape from being laughed at. 



The average healthy child finds a peculiar pleasure in 

 learning the names of things, as well as facts about the 

 things themselves, and " big words " have no terrors when 

 the object represented is in hand, and the meaning of the 

 one and the use of the other are in some measure under- 

 stood. It is robbing the child of the pleasure as well as 

 of the advantage in standing erect to go always on all- 

 fours with him. It is best, therefore, in nature study, or 

 nature play, for one blends imperceptibl}^ with the other, 

 to use those words which best describe the object under 

 observation or express the idea in mind, with proper ex- 

 planation, of course, but without pedantry or apology, and 

 without thought whether they are long or short, or taken 

 from one language or another. 



It is obvious that insects are peculiarly adapted to the 

 needs of the beginner in nature study. They abound ev- 

 erywhere, and are to be found in one stage of development 

 or another at all seasons of the year. They are easily cap- 

 tured, and, many of them being injurious to man, the kill- 

 ing of them, is not generally to be regretted. Among in- 

 sects, one of the best for the beginner, by reason of the 

 distinctness of its several parts and the comparative sim- 

 plicity of its structure is the grasshopper. It is most abund- 

 ant in late summer and early fall, but some species or oth- 

 er may be found at almost any season of the year. It is 

 captured with ease, compared with many other creatures, 

 and the larger number that are destroyed the better it is 

 for everybody. The parts of the body are also more dis- 

 tinct than in the butterflies, beetles and bees. So let us 



