oes into the pupa
state, and in that motionless condition transforms to the perfect
insect.

This is called a complete metamorphosis.

When the change is gradual, without any pupa form, any stopping place as
it were, the change is said to be an incomplete metamorphosis.

Yes, the metamorphosis of the grasshoppers is incomplete, and of the
katydids and the crickets and all the other insects we have studied
until we came to the dobson.

Another name for the larva of insects that undergo an incomplete
metamorphosis is _nymph_. Some books speak of the nymph of the
grasshopper, and never of the larva of the grasshopper. Such books use
the word _larva_ only in speaking of the young of insects that undergo a
complete metamorphosis.

Yes, Ned, they would speak of the nymph of the dragon fly, and the nymph
of the May fly and the nymph of the cricket and the katydid, but they
would speak of the larva of the corydalus.

Egg, nymph, adult,--those are the stages of insects that have an
incomplete metamorphosis.

Egg, larva, pupa, adult,--those are the stages of insects that have a
complete metamorphosis.

No, it is not wrong to say larva instead of nymph. I only want you to
know how the word nymph is used, so that when you see it in reading
about insects you will know what it means.

The corydalus lays its eggs near the water, and it lays a great
many--sometimes nearly three thousand. Think of that! The young larvae
crawl into the water as soon as they are hatched, and those that escape
the hungry fishes grow into these large larvae and finally metamorphose
into the big-horned corydalus.

It is such a remarkably fierce-looking creature that it has received
many names that are neither complimentary nor beautiful, such as
conniption bug, alligator, and dragon, and numerous others equally
expressive.

Now, we must go home. Let us put the dobson back into the brook.

It does no harm, and we will not kill it.

Yes, Ned, there are smaller insects like the corydalus that are near
relatives to it, and I am sure you have often seen them.

FAIRY LACEWING

Here is our little Lacewing.

[Illustration]

May says it is a darling, like a woodland fairy clad all in green.

And, oh, its eyes! Are they not beautiful? They shine like gold.

Do its wings not remind you a little of the wings of the corydalus?

May says no, indeed; that has ugly brown wings.

But look again, May. See how these wings are veined, and do