162 LITTLE FOLKS 
Not a bit like their mother, in her sober dress of brown and 
lead color ; but tiny atoms of creatures, in white, like other babies. 
They're a lively family, though ; and every day Mamma Ear- 
wig takes the whole troop out on a foraging expedition. Selecting 
some deep flower, where there is plenty of pollen for the babies to 
eat, she leads the whole family into it, and there they spend the 
night — for they never go out in the day light. 
Think of going pic-nicing and spending the day in the heart 
of a lily cup. 
Well, when it grows light, the whole family return to the 
home ; and thus they live for five or six weeks. All this time the 
babies have been growing, and every now and then throwing off 
their old skin and coming out in a bran-new suit, somewhat larger 
than the last. That's the way insects have of changing their dress 
— perhaps you know. 
Now comes the sad part of my story, for I am sorry to say it 
winds up w T ith a tragedy. 
As these ungrateful babies come to their full size, forgetful of 
the constant care of their good little mother, unmindful of the cozy 
home and the nice pic-nics they have enjoyed with her, these 
wretched little cannibals actually eat tip thei}' ozvn mother! 
Of course, that breaks up the family. The unnatural children 
throw off their last suit, come out with gorgeous wings, and fly off 
the first thing, to seek their own fortunes. 
Besides the slander about the ear, there's another naughty thing 
said of this unfortunate mother. She does (it must be admitted) 
eat holes in melon-rinds and the leaves of plants. But when you 
know more about it you'll be ready to thank her, instead of abusing 
her. 
Every bite she takes is to eat the eggs of some other insect, 
which are her special food. If she did not eat those eggs, they 
would hatch, and not only the rinds, but every bit of the melon be 
eaten. She must be allowed to be very useful. 
In fact, the more you know of these wonderful little bodies the 
more you will find that every one has its use. Some are made to 
prevent too great growth of vegetation, others to thin out the ranks 
of their fellow insects. 
Those busy little worms who dig in the ground, and whom we 
call nuisances, are, in truth, doing a most important and useful 
work. By their incessant wriggling and twisting around in the 
