The opening of Preface
In preparing this book the author had in mind the wants both of the student and the teacher. For the student’s use the more difficult portions, particularly that on the embryology, may be omitted. The work has grown in part out of the writer’s experience in class work.
In instructing small classes in the anatomy and metamorphoses of insects, it was strongly felt that the mere dissection and drawing of a few types, comprising some of our common insects, were by no means sufficient for broad, thorough work. Plainly enough the laboratory work is all important, being rigidly disciplinary in its methods, and affording the foundation for any farther work. But to this should be added frequent explanations or formal lectures, and the student should be required to do collateral reading in some general work on structural and developmental entomology. With this aim in view, the present work has been prepared.