X INTRODUCTION. 



hol. One boy may live near a creek where he can easily 

 get crayfishes or clams for the whole class ; another may 

 happen on a lot of beetles. At the beginning of the work 

 ask them to carry boxes or bottles, and be on the lookout 

 for specimens ; in this way they will learn more, and lighten 

 your work. But do not neglect class excursions ; go out 

 after school with as many as will accompany you ; have 

 picnics on Saturdays with them. 



Let each pupil be required to make a small collection of 

 insects ; it is well to urge each pupil to select some order 

 or family of insects for special study. Written or oral 

 reports of such observations are helpful, and serve to vary 

 the work. If there be time, let the pupils select some of 

 the following subjects for investigation and reading : the 

 chinch bug, silk-worm, bark louse, army worm, cut-worm, 

 potato worm, mosquito, gall fly, ichneumon fly, Hessian fly, 

 cicada, locust, cochineal, May fly, June beetle, cockroach, 

 firefly, daddy-long-legs, plant louse, bed-bug, louse, tick, 

 jigger, flea, wasp, honey bee, ant, cabbage worm. Compare 

 these with the types studied. Ask the questions : What 

 insects are injurious to man ? How can we get rid of 

 them ? What insects are beneficial ? How can we best 

 propagate them ? 



Make blow-pipes for the students by drawing glass tubes 

 to a fine point, rounding the sharp edges in the flame, so 

 they will not cut. Tip with sealing wax a lot of bristles, 

 both black and white, for probing. Have a good supply of 

 cigar-boxes. At the beginning of the oyster season ask a 

 restaurant keeper to open oyster cans on the side and save 

 them for you ; use these for dissecting pans, as described 

 under "the crayfish." 



It may be better for the teacher to make the dissection 



