PREFACE Vll. 



to discourage that cruelty to insects in which children are so 

 apt to indulge ; but if it does no further good, it has already 

 fulfilled an important part of its mission. It has made many 

 an hour pass pleasantly, which might otherwise have been 

 tedious, and almost caused me to forget at times that I was 

 confined within the four walls of my chamber, It has car- 

 ried me into the fields and woods, and renewed my admira- 

 tion of the wonderful works of the Creator ; and I have re- 

 joiced in the conviction that He, who has so carefully pro- 

 vided for the wants of each helpless little insect, and con- 

 descended to become its teacher, will never fail to support 

 and instruct those, who, although gifted with a higher order 

 of intelligence, are equally dependant upon Him, both for 

 strength and wisdom. 



