SEPTEMBER 39 



the shape of a diluted syrup of sugar aud water. This 

 most of them will take from the liuger. If they are not 

 disposed to eat, uncoil the tongue gently with a pin, hold- 

 ing the insect firmly but carefully by the vertically 

 appressed wings, and letting the tip of the tongue come 

 in contact with the syrup. If still he will not eat, fresh 

 fragrant flowers will, perhaps, tempt him. At any rate, 

 if he does not partake of their bounty, he cannot be very 

 hungry. 



In the home for the Imtterflies should be placed also 

 twigs and branches. Instead of glass aquaria, a soap box, 

 in each corner of which are fastened uprights of wood, 

 round and above which is nailed either wire or cotton 

 netting, may be used. 



Grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, ground beetles, will 

 flourish in caterpillar cages. They need abundance of 

 fresh grass. The locusts will certainly deposit their eggs 

 in the soil. The ground beetles should be placed under 

 a stone. In every case, the secret of success is to imitate 

 nature. 



The habits of these animals, what and how they eat, 

 breathe, and move, are the most important points for 

 study. In my own experience, I found that giving the 

 children a simple definite question to be answered the 

 next day made them observe intelligently at recess, after 

 school, and in the mornings. The teacher must remem- 

 ber this object, and with a word and real interest on her 

 own part stimulate them. The following questions illus- 

 trate the point : AVhat does the locust eat ? How does 

 he jump ? Does he walk? Can he close his eyes ? 



After this preliminary work, it is desirable, by means 

 of the hektograph, to make drawings for each child, illus- 

 trating the animal studied. 



