416 NATURE-STUDY 



regions, their climate, vegetation, etc. Show pictures. Why 

 do the birds not stay? Do all the birds fly south? (H, 108, 

 100, W.) 



INSECTS: Life history of butterfly and moth: Observe 

 caterpillars of milkweed, and cabbage butterflies in field, 

 also find caterpillars * of cecropia moth, the wooly bear, etc. 

 Cage and feed them. Observe spinning of cocoons, and, 

 perhaps, if not too late in the season, the emergence of the 

 milkweed and cabbage butterflies. Be sure the children 

 see that the caterpillar is only the baby moth or butterfly. 

 Note general plan of a butterfly. Note its beauty, grace- 

 ful flight, its feeding on flowers.* Collect cocoons,* note 

 where they are found, bring them into school, and keep 

 them till spring when they may open. (J, 129, 130, 136, 134, 

 149, 150.) Send for eggs of the silkworm (see chapter XIV) 

 and try to rear them through the life cycle.* (See last ref- 

 erences, also W, T, S.) Brief study of silk. Try to unravel 

 cocoon. 



Observe grasshoppers * in field and cage. What do they 

 eat? How do they use their jaws? Note head, chest, 

 abdomen with rings, wings, legs, especially the last pair. 

 Observe the jumping and flying. Catch crickets and keep 

 them in the school-room. Hear them chirp. How do they 

 do it? Compare them briefly with grasshoppers. What 

 are their habits? Study beetles as to their hard shell, the 

 harm they do (potato-beetle). Find ground beetles. Study 

 flies and mosquitoes briefly as troublesome pests. Dragon- 

 fly * : Beauty, swiftness, and grace in flight. Common 

 names, uses, not dangerous. Observe the gauzy-veined 

 wings, iridescent eyes. Found generally near the water. 

 Bees: Observe general appearance, note buzzing flight, feed- 



