Front matter
Reading edition
THE ILLUSTRATIONS ENGRAVED BY DALZIEL BROTHERS. THE COLOURED PLATES BY KRONHEIM & CO.
COMIC INSECTS.
BY The Rev. F. A. S. REID, M.A. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY BERRY F. BERRY.
LONDON: FREDERICK WARNE AND CO., BEDFORD STREET, STRAND.
CONTENTS. PAGE THE CATERPILLAR 1 THE MOTH 7 THE SNAIL 13 THE BEE 19 THE BLACK-BEETLE 25 THE SPIDER 31
OH, wonder I much what this book contains! Can Insects talk, and do they have brains? I always thought that these queer little things Were made up entirely of legs, wings, and stings. A Black-Beetle teach me! And what, Bumble-Bee, In all the wide world can you say unto me? And surely a Caterpillar never has read? With green leaves for books, he would eat them instead; While neither a Moth nor a Spider could tell How a pen should be held, or correctly could spell. And as for poor Snailey,—it's more than absurd, He never could read a one-syllable word! But I've heard of the School Board, and now it's appalling To think that a Moth or a Snail may be calling And telling me too, as their little eyes glisten, Their funny wee lessons, if only I'll listen. * * * * * * Yes! they talk in a language that all is their own, And here into English you'll find it has grown; Where pictures will shew, and the rhymes they will say, How Insects can work, talk, and laugh, and be gay.
COMIC INSECTS.
How queer a procession is passing this way, Of insects all talking; come, hear what they say! The sight is as strange as their words they are true, And you'll laugh as they offer their lessons to you.
"Led astray."