Chapter I.--_The New-born Perfect Insect._--The Resurrection--Meaning of the word Imago--Curious aspect of New-born Insect--Conclusion of the Dragon-Fly's History--Structure of a Wing--how expanded--Deformed Wings--Exception in the Ephemeræ--Dance of the Ephemeræ--Insects without Wings--Showers and Stains of Blood--Aphis-Lion Fly--Insects in the Imago state do not increase in size 309
Chapter II.--_The Structure and Organs of the Imago._--Anatomy and Physiology--Insects have not Bones--Leather-coated Jack--The Head and Thorax--The Eyes--simple and compound--Wonders of an Eye--Anatomy of the Eye--Immense number of Eyes--Remarkable Provision--Experiments on the Eyes of Bees--Beauty of the Eyes--The _Antennæ_--their Function, perhaps the Nose--Insects Weather-wise--Insects in Rain--Organs of Speech--Anecdote of Bees--Various Functions of Antennæ--The Mouth in Insects--Parts of the Mouth--Spiral Tube of the Butterfly--Taste and Smell in Insects--The Trunk--Wings--Membranous--Scale covered--Wing-Cases--Experiments on Flying--Painted Wings--The glory of the Butterfly--The Legs of Insects--Cleanliness of Insects--The Water Boatman--Kangaroo Beetle--The Abdomen--The Sting of the Bee--Insect with a Leg in its Tail 335
Chapter III.--_Respiration of the Imago._--Experiments upon the Breathing of Insects--Chloroform--Coal-gas--their Effects--Contest between a Spider and a Blue-Bottle Fly--Air-Pipes of Insects--Multitude of Air-Tubes-- Circulation of Blood in Insects--An Insect's Pulse 398
Chapter IV.--_Food and Death of the Imago._--Vegetable Eaters--Carnivorous Insects--The Tigers to Insects--Fasts of Insects--The Last Duty--Insect Forethought--The Creator's Wisdom and Love--God does not despise Little Things 408
Insects escaping from the Pupa condition 213
To look at a house-fly as it performs its figure-of-eight dances in the air of our rooms, or as it buzzes against the window-pane, vainly endeavouring to dash its tender body through the firm and clear glassy wall--to mark how soon it comes into existence, and how soon its little day of life is gone--one would say it is a foolish and trifling thing to write the history of an insect's life; but any one who would thus speak must be ignorant of that which he declares to be folly and trifling. He cannot know the miracles of skill that insects, insignificant as they seem, are capable of performing; nor the astonishing lessons of wisdom which even man may learn from these minute and short-lived beings. So long as we are ignorant of any part of God's creation, we may very probably think light of it; but when we come to inquire into the things we have formerly despised, and will give a patient attention to what we before thought beneath our notice, the tone of our remarks will greatly alter. Now, we shall find in the meanest things formed by the Divine hand inexhaustible themes for wonder and praise, and innumerable proofs that the great Almighty power which built our round world, and countless worlds besides, which fixed them with a firm decree in an appointed course, has not been less displayed even in the formation of a tiny insect, which is this hour alive, and the next lost to being.