58 INSECTS. 



resembles the perfect insect, while in the former it bears 

 some likeness to a dead and wingless specimen. 



In other classes of insects the pupa is active, and 

 closely resembles the perfect insect, forming indeed, in 

 most cases, a link between this and the larva. Of this 

 kind are the pupse of the earwigs (Euplexoptera), and the 

 grasshoppers and cockroaches (Orthoptera), which can 

 only be distinguished from the wingless larva and the 

 winged imago by the rudimental wings, or rather wing- 

 cases, wherein the true wings are being prepared. 



To sum up. From the egg of an insect emerges the 

 larva, which, whether active and independent, or partially 

 inactive and dependent on others, is always a feeding and 

 a growing animal. To the larva succeeds the pupa, 

 which may be totally quiescent and incapable of feeding, 

 or which may be active and voracious, but which never 

 grows or moults. From the pupa proceeds the imago 

 or perfect insect, which thenceforth neither grows nor 

 undergoes change or moult. 



In the life of some insects the chief part seems to be 

 played whilst in the preliminary states ; the imperfect 

 insect preying, building, tailoring, and generally living 

 for a much longer time than the perfect insect ; the only 

 business of which, in these cases, seems to be to perpetuate 

 the species and to die ; whilst, on the other hand, there 

 are those which, having lived a dependent and inactive 

 life in their earlier stages, take upon them in their 

 maturity all the duties of parents, nurses, governors, 

 citizens, and artizans. 



And now, after all that has been written in this and 

 the preceding chapters, it must be confessed that the 

 young student will occasionally find difficulties in his 

 way, even in the first step of determining whether a cer- 



