comstock] SEPTEMBER NATURE-STUDY 285 



The grass spider — After the study of cobwebs follows naturally 

 the study of the grass spider. This is the creature that builds the 

 little funnel webs over the grass by the roadsides and in the fields. 

 These webs on dewy and frosty mornings are very noticeable and 

 beautiful. For the study of the funnel web, use Lesson CXI, 

 p. 478. 



References: Insect Life, p. 224; The Spider Book, Comstock. 



FOURTH GRADE. 



Dragon-flies — The dragon-fly is the insect aeroplane of the most 

 powerful pattern, and is far more efficient than any flying machine 

 ever invented by man. For this lesson, a living specimen may be 

 placed in a tumbler or aquarium jar, and a study should be made 

 of it as an efficient flyer. If it is impossible to secure living spec- 

 imens, a pinned specimen may be studied for this part of the lesson. 

 Questions in obs. 2, 3, p. 386, may be answered, and incidentally, 

 such questions as are easily answered in obs. 1 may be asked. Pu- 

 pils should be encouraged to note for themselves the flight of drag- 

 on-flies which may be found in numbers about marshes and banks 

 of ponds and streams in September. 



The outlines for field notes, given on p. 386, make an interest- 

 ing study for a field trip with a class. If this is impracticable, 

 there may be some of the pupils who would be able to make these 

 observations and report to the class. 



In the still pools of brooks or near pond margins may be found 

 the young of the dragon-flies. They may be caught with a dip net 

 by dipping deep in the muddy bottom among sticks and trash, or 

 they may be found hiding under sticks and stones. Each dragon- 

 fly nymph should be kept in a separate aquarium, for which a jelly 

 glass may be used. These voracious little creatures may be fed 

 by tying a fresh piece of meat or liver to a thread and suspending 

 it near the bottom of the tumbler. This should be renewed each 

 day, and the water changed often. There should be gravel at the 

 bottom of the aquarium or a stone under which the creature may 

 hide. Of course the dragon-fly nymphs may be put in a large 

 aquarium, but they are the ogres of the water world and will kill 

 almost any creature that they can overpower. These nymphs 

 are small in September but may be found. However,* May is the 

 most favorable month for their studv. Use obs. i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, p. 

 385- 



