THE FUNNY BACK-SWIMMERS 124 THE GIANT WATER BUG 125 LITTLE MRS. SHORE BUG 127 THE AIRY WATER STRIDERS 127 A QUEER FELLOW 129 THE WELL DRESSED LACE BUG 132 A BAD BUG 133 THE TROUBLESOME RED BUG 135 THE RAVENOUS CHINCH BUGS 138 THE WELL PROTECTED STINK BUG 139 THE LOUSE 142 BIRD LICE AND BOOK LICE 142 FRIEND CICADA 143 THE ODD SPITTLE INSECT 152 PRETTY LEAF HOPPERS 154 THE COMICAL TREE HOPPERS 157 THE JUMPING PLANT LICE 157 THE APHIDS 158 SCALE BUGS 165 THE HORNED CORYDALUS 175 FAIRY LACEWING 183 THE ANT LION 187 THE LITTLE CADDICE FLIES 190 ~ODONATA~ ~EPHEMERIDA~ ~PLECOPTERA~ ~THYSANURA~ [Illustration] OUR PRETTY DRAGON FLIES Come, children; come with me. Come to a pond I know of. See how the water shines in the sun. Over there is an old log lying on the edge of the pond. It is covered with green moss, and a green frog is sitting on one end of it. Let us go and sit on the other end. Goop! he says, and--plump! he has jumped into the water. That is too bad, frog; we did not mean to disturb you. How pretty it is here! See the pickerel weed growing out in the water with its arrow-shaped leaves, and its spikes of purple flowers. See, down in the water are little fish, and very likely pollywogs are there too, and lots of queer little things. But who is this darting over the pond? Ah, we know you. You are our queer little, dear little old dragon fly. Look, children; see the dragon flies darting about like flashes of light in every direction. They are having such a good time. Whizz! One flashed right past Mollie's ear. [Illustration] Pretty people, I wish one of you would come and sit by us a little while, so we could get a good look at you. What is that, Ned? You have found a large one lying on the ground? Sure enough; it is a beauty too, with a green body and silver wings.