DIALOGUE XL. 
ORDER APTERA. PEDICULUS, OR LOUSE. 
PULEX, OR FLEA. 
MOTHER. To day we shall pro- 
ceed to the seventh and last order of 
insects ; it comprehends all those that 
have no wings at any period of their 
lives ; and as this is the distinguishing 
characteristic of the order, it is therefore 
called aptera, that is, without wings. 
Lucy, But, mamma,, in some of the 
other orders there are female insects 
which have no wings, the glow-worm, 
for instance. 
Mother, True, Lucy ; but no apte- 
rous insects, whether male or female, 
have wings : nor, with the exception of 
the flea, do they go through the transfor- 
