PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 107 



of the most important, according to my idea viz., the most sure method of rear- 

 ing, when collected, these pupae to perfection, which has been (comparatively 

 speaking) left untouched. Upon this head I purpose, in the following brief notes, 

 to give the results of my own experience, together with what I have been able to 

 collect from others well conversant with the subject, in the hope that many young 

 entomologists may not have to endure the chagrin and disappointment conse- 

 quent upon repeated failures failures not consequent upon carelessness or inat- 

 tention, but, except in the cases of ichneumon and muscardine, arising from want 

 of judgment, and a departure from the laws of nature. 



To rear pupa? successfully three things are necessary a moderate supply of 

 moisture an earth not liable to mould or mildew (but, at the same time, light 

 and friable, and not liable, if accidentally allowed to become dry, to impact the 

 pupae) and thorough ventilation. In order to obtain these results as far as pos- 

 sible, in a compact form, I have planned the following 



BOX FOR REARING PUPJE. 



Obtain one or more boxes, of any convenient length or breadth, but not less 

 than six inches in depth (either divided into compartments or not), and fitted 

 with a lid, having a large space cut out of it, to within an inch of the margin ; 

 this open space to be covered with either close-wove wire or old calico, affixed 

 with thin glue ; in the bottom of the box, or of each compartment, bore, with a 

 centre-bit, one or more holes, about two-thirds of an inch in diameter; cover 

 these with pieces of perforated zinc, tacked down ; place on the bottom of each 

 box, or compartment, moderately-large pebbles or sea gravel, to the depth of 

 about half an inch, and on this again, to the depth of two inches, the earth on 

 which to lay the pupae, composed of equal parts of garden mould, silver-sand, 

 and thoroughly-rotten wood from the heart of an old tree ; on this, after being 

 made smooth, distribute your pupae in such a manner, according to their size, that, 

 when covered, none are more than half an inch below the surface ; and cover the 

 surface of the mould with a layer of moss, about half an inch thick. The inside 

 of the box should be rough, and be raised on pieces of wood, or have pieces of 

 wood fixed to the bottom in such a manner that it may stand clearly above the 

 floor. 



By this arrangement you may damp your pupae with impunity, as it is impos- 

 sible for them to become saturated with stagnant water, owing to the bottom 

 drainage ; and the moss at the top prevents undue evaporation, by absorbing a 

 certain quantity of moisture, and thus striking a medium between the two extremes 

 of wet and drought. Thus far respecting pupae that bury themselves. 



Our attention next directs itself to pupae that lie concealed under moss ; and 

 here it may be as well to mention a locality not mentioned by Mr. Greene in his 

 paper, but one which, I feel convinced, will be productive, especially in the pupae 

 of those larvae that feed on low-growing plants, upon heaths, mountains, and 

 upon the coasts viz., under the thick moss growing upon and around large stones 

 and boulders, and upon the old stumps of felled trees. The pupae of the eupitheciae 

 and all the small geometrae are best kept in wide-mouthed bottles, tightly corked. 

 The anti-absorbent properties of the glass and cork prevent their drying up in the 

 small quantity of air enclosed in the bottle, while the glass, being a slow con- 

 ductor, maintains it at au equal temperature. There will be no difficulty expe- 

 rienced in getting the insect out of the bottle, as it will almost always be found 

 hanging, back downwards, from the cork ; so that, on carefully reversing the cork, 

 without jarring it, the insect may be boxed without injury. The larger pupae 

 may be placed on the moss in the pupae box. 



ON REARING THE LARV^l OF MICROLEPIBOPTERA. 



Larvae inhabiting the stems of plants such as pastinaca, cirsium, arctium, 

 &c. require no attention beyond keeping them away from heat, in order that the 

 pith on which they feed may not become dry. I keep mine in tin boxes, about 

 eight inches high, by three inches in diameter ; and, thus packed together, they 

 suffer no injury, except in the case of thistles, which are apt to ferment. In this 

 case, they require to be taken out of the tins, and exposed to the air, until 



