CHAPTER VI. 



GENERAL SUGGESTIONS FOR FIELD WORK 

 ON INSECTS. 



The teacher who hopes to present the subject of insect 

 study must be a leader in doing things, not simply a 

 director, expecting to give directions and have them 

 obeyed. The beginner learns to do things by seeing 

 some one who knows how, go ahead. Not only this, but 

 the instructor needs to be with the pupil to show him 

 where to go, what to get, and when to stop. And in 

 securing insects, it is quite as valuable to know when to 

 stop as to know when to begin. There are many valuable 

 insects which deserve protection, and which the beginner 

 can learn only gradually to recognize and to spare 

 when looking for new insects. The real object of the 

 study is to learn the life habits, the individual peculiarities, 

 and the relationships of these insects to each other and to 

 ourselves; and the only way to do this is to find them in 

 their places of abode and observe what they are doing 

 and how they get along in the world. Or, if a beneficial 

 insect is desired for extended study, bring along with it 

 plenty of its natural food to keep it going while its ap- 

 pearance and conduct are being studied. 



In beginning the work, it is an effective thing to 

 organize, say, four expeditions, one to some wood pile, 

 one to the open fields in the middle of the day, one to a 

 pond, and one to some electric light globe, or, failing in this 

 latter, a kitchen window may be raised and the screen 



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