LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 25 



Several kinds of moths cover their eggs with 

 down taken from their own bodies. 



The cochineal insect lays her eggs under her, 

 glues herself fast to them, and dies, making her 

 own body a shelter for her eggs ; while another 

 insect covers hers with the pupa case from which 

 she has just escaped. 



How do you think the insect knows that 

 all these precautions are necessary to defend 

 her eggs from storms and frosts she never 

 felt? 



Rene&. God taught her. 



Jlunt M. Yes ; God taught her, and she has 

 obeyed his teaching ; and shall we despise or 

 wantonly kill the little insect over which HE so 

 carefully watches ? I hope not. 



Insects are very useful to man. The bee 

 gives us its delicious honey ; the silk-worm 

 supplies us with silk ; and in the body of the 

 cochineal insect is contained the beautiful color 

 of which the paint called carmine is made: it is 

 also used in dyeing, and in the preparation of 

 several kinds of medicine. These insects are 

 considered so valuable, that the plants upon 

 which they feed are carefully cultivated, and at 



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