APPENDIX. 185 



Some caterpillars pass the winter in that state, either 

 just hatched, half groAvn, or nearly mature. To keep 

 these safely through our long winter and 2:)revent their re- 

 covering from their dormancy before food for them can 

 be obtained in the spring is one of the most difficult 

 tasks. It is best, as a general rule, to place them in 

 closed or nearly closed vessels, not too small, in a dry but 

 cool cellar, and not to move them until their food-plant 

 is again in leaf. Mr. Edwards has succeeded well with some 

 of those which have eaten little or nothing before going 

 into winter quarters, by placing them through the winter 

 in an ice-house, which would seem to be rather heroic 

 treatment at first sight ; but in almost any other situa- 

 tion they are liable to rouse from their lethargy too early 

 in the spring, the critical period, no doubt, of their life. 

 For collecting caterpillars, pocket tin boxes are the best 

 receptacles. 



The satisfactory preservation of the caterpillar for the 

 cabinet is far easier than is generally supposed. For ana- 

 tomical purposes it is much better to dissect fresh speci- 

 mens, but very much may be done with specimens that 

 have been preserved in not too strong alcohol, or in 

 glycerine and carbolic acid. For the study of the mark- 

 ings or of the external features or form, nothing equals 

 the method known as inflation, where only the pellicle 

 and its appendages are preserved, and which has the ad- 

 vantage of allowing the caterpillar to be readily placed in 

 an ordinary cabinet beside the other forms of the creature's 

 life; also of preserving in their natural relations all the 

 spines and hairs which clothe the body, and of allowing 

 these to be studied at pleasure; specimens preserved in 

 any fluid, on the contrary, are difficult to handle con- 

 veniently, and their examination is unsatisfactory from 

 the matting of the hairs and spines. 



The instruments necessary for inflating are a small tin 



