
The Cambridge Manuals of Science and
PREFACE
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER II GROWTH AND CHANGE
CHAPTER III THE LIFE-STORIES OF SOME SUCKING INSECTS
CHAPTER IV FROM WATER TO AIR
CHAPTER V TRANSFORMATIONS,—OUTWARD AND INWARD
CHAPTER VI LARVAE AND THEIR ADAPTATIONS
CHAPTER VII PUPAE AND THEIR MODIFICATIONS
Insects have fascinated observers for centuries, and this compact volume brings those marvels to life with clear, illustrated explanations of how a tiny egg can become a winged marvel. The author walks the listener through the stages of growth—larva, pupa, and adult—using familiar examples such as gnats, moths, and beetles, while highlighting the surprising adaptations each stage displays.
Organized into short, numbered chapters, the book covers everything from water‑borne nymphs to the intricate proboscis of a butterfly, and even touches on the broader meaning of these cycles for humans and the environment. Rich line drawings accompany the narrative, encouraging listeners to pause and watch a garden or brook for the very transformations described. Ideal for curious minds and budding naturalists, it offers a gateway to field‑side observation without overwhelming scientific jargon.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (173K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Justin Kerk, Laura Wisewell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2005-08-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
1865–1939
A lively guide to insects from a naturalist who spent his career studying how small creatures live, change, and fit into the wider world. His writing brings solid science and a real sense of curiosity together in a way that still feels approachable.
View all books
by Dallas Lore Sharp

by Dallas Lore Sharp

by Dallas Lore Sharp

by Dallas Lore Sharp

by E. N. (Eldred Nathaniel) Woodcock

by Carl Ethan Akeley

by Francis W. (Francis Wayland) Parker, Nellie Lathrop Helm

by Arabella B. (Arabella Burton) Buckley