4 INSECT LIFE. 



vations on living insects. When practicable, excur- 

 sions into the fields should be made for this purpose. 

 Suggestions as to what insects are most likely to be 

 found in different localities are given in the chapters 

 on Pond Life, Brook Life, Orchard Life, Forest Life, 

 and Roadside Life. 



But in most cases it will be necessary to make the 

 observations in the schoolroom. For this a breed- 

 ing cage or an aquarium will be needed. Directions 

 for making these are given in Chapter IV, pages 



326-335- 



At first an aquarium will be found more useful 

 than a breeding cage, for the constant movement in 

 a well-stocked aquarium is sure to excite interest. 

 If the pupils are furnished with an insect net (see 

 page 285), they can keep the aquarium supplied with 

 living insects. In the chapters on Pond Life and on 

 Brook Life the more common aquatic insects are 

 described and directions are given for their study. 



During the winter, cocoons of the giant silkworms 

 can be collected (see pages 188-197) and kept till the 

 adult moths emerge, affording good material for les- 

 sons on the transformations of insects. At the same 

 time, and in early spring, the eggs of the apple-tree 

 tent caterpillar can be found on apple trees and on 

 wild cherry, and later the growth and transforma- 

 tions of the insect observed (see pages 168-171). 



At an early period in the course, a home-made 

 breeding cage (see page 327) should be provided ; 

 and during the summer months it will be easy to 

 keep it stocked with some of the insects described in 

 the chapters on Orchard Life, Forest Life, and Road- 

 side Life. 



