Vi. PREFACE. 



workman is commonly perceived in that which is of little 

 size. He who has stretched out the heavens, and dug up the 

 bottom of the sea, is also He who has pierced a passage 

 through the sting of the bee, for the ejection of its poi- 

 son." 



With the view of impressing these truths, and exciting an 

 interest, which would induce them to inquire further, I 

 commenced my little stories about insects for the benefit of my 

 nieces, and the children of some of my friends. When the 

 manuscript was nearly completed, I was induced to show it 

 to two or three scientific friends, who encouraged me to 

 give it a wider circulation. This I have concluded to flo, 

 although well aware of its many imperfections. 



The difficulty of writing as I do, can scarcely be conceiv- 

 ed by those who have not tried it. We commonly read as 

 we write; and sight is almost indispensable to facility of 

 expression, and the proper arrangement of subjects. A 

 bandage over the eyes, seems to obscure the mental, as well 

 as the physical vision we forget what we have said, and 

 what we intended to say, and are liable to continual omissions 

 and repetitions. Had I been differently situated, I might 

 have written more interestingly ; but, under the circum- 

 stances, I have done the best I could. 



I have thought it better to give a pretty full history of a 

 few insects, than to embrace a larger number, and say but 

 little of each; and I have preferred those which are most 

 common, and can be most readily observed, although I have 

 not confined myself to the species which are indigenous. I 

 have avoided the use of scientific terms, where they did not 

 appear absolutely necessary, not wishing to puzzle children 

 with hard names, which they would not be likely to remem- 

 ber. 



I shall be truly thankful if my little book has the effect 



