NATURIC .STUDY IJUS.SONS. 
17 
Nature Study Lessons. XXV. 
15V KDWAKl) J. 15URNIIAM. 
Ill Nature Study Tyessoii.s, during the past two years, we 
have considered the memliers of the insect world in sever¬ 
al different aspects. At first we took up a few individu¬ 
als here and there, as we found them, without reference to 
their place in any S3^stem of classification. Next, we began 
to arrange all the insects which we could find into groups 
or orders, in accordance with .some .striking characteristics 
in the plan of their .structure—such as biting or sucking 
monthparts, one or two pairs of wings, similar or dissimi¬ 
lar wings, etc. 
We have found that insects in our collection could be 
placed in some one of seven orders, and that each of these 
orders had been given a name suggested b}^ .some striking 
characteristic of the wings. The in.sects in one order have 
hard, horny wing-covers, with a pair of wings folded un¬ 
derneath ; in another the wing-covers are half hard and 
half membranous ; in another, covered with minute scales 
that look and feel like du.st; in another there are many 
veins, and in another veiy few ; in .still another the veins 
are straight, or nearly .so, and in one the insects have bu^ 
a single pair of wings. 
It is to be hoped that many readers of Nature; Study 
have fixed the names of these seven orders in their minds 
.so thoroughly b^' use and habit that they will never be for¬ 
gotten. Kverybody has something to do with in.sects, 
whether willing or not, and it is much more convenient, 
as well as more sensible and intelligent, to speak of them 
correctly than to call them all bugs or flies indiscriminate¬ 
ly- 
When we had arranged our in.sects in .seven groups or 
orders, and learned tlie name of each and some character- 
