INTRODUCTION 



their life buried beneath the soil. And there are others 

 again which, being parasites, pass their existence within 

 the body of another animal. Some are obnoxious pests 

 to plant or other forms of life, many are of distinct 

 service in the economy of Nature. Some are indis- 

 pensable agents in the pollination and fertilisation of 

 flowers, others are detestable disseminators of disease. 

 There are those which perform useful work as scavengers 

 and sanitary-inspectors, removers (and consumers !) of 

 filth, there are others whose palate is best suited to sweet 

 and tasty provender. There are represented among 

 insects both soHtary and social workers. Those coming 

 under the last-named head exhibit wonderful traits of 

 co-partnership and co-operation, founding colonies whose 

 laws and regulations are a striking testimony as to the 

 intelligence these silent folk possess. Some perform 

 their change from egg to perfect insect without much 

 loss of time, others are well content to allow the operation 

 to drag on almost indefinitely, until the hour when the 

 all-important period of final emergence can be no longer 

 delayed, and it is highly essential that the future destiny 

 of the race shall be assured. Some, as has already been 

 shown, are wingless, others possess the necessary organs 

 of flight as soon as the adult state is reached, and there 

 are others again who only enjoy the possession of flight- 

 appendages for a short time, so as to enable them to 

 travel from one place to another and there enjoy their 

 little day. Some burrow, crawl, creep, fly, hop or jump, 

 others swim with ease and facility, feathering their 



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