MANTJAI. OF NATDRE STUDY. 19 



cussed in this grade. Also some butterflies have 

 abortive two front legs, thus leaving but two pairs 

 of real legs. 



3. Point out the organs of the abdomen if any 

 are to be seen ; for example, the sting of the bee, 

 the boring machine called ovipositors in female 

 grasshoppers, cicada, etc., for making holes in 

 which to deposit eggs. 



Most insects have nine segments in the abdo- 

 men, one in head and three in the thorax. Have 

 the children count to see if that statement is true. 

 Here, again, it may be necessary to use the hand 

 lens, with some insects. 



When studying the beetle, have the pupils observe 

 that the outer pair of wings is hard and used as a 

 covering for the delicate, gauzy wings and thus 

 protects them from dirt and other rough things. 

 It will also be observed that some insects have no 

 wings. Ants cut oflF their own wings when they 

 have no more use for them. 



Touch upon the uses of insects. I<et the child- 

 ren tell stories about ants and bees as to their way 

 of working. Compare the wisdom and industry of 

 these two insects with the idleness and wastefulness 

 of grasshoppers and crickets. 



Observe the transformation of carterpillars. 

 Make drawings on a large scale of each insect stud- 

 ied. 



