THE INTEREST IN INSECTS 



187 



til she dies. — "A Manual for the Study 

 of Insects" by John Henry Comstock and 

 Anna Botsford Comstock. Drawing by 

 courtesy of Entomology, Washington, D. 

 C. 



Desires Lists of the Larger Moths. 



Some three years ago, I became in- 

 terested in butterfly and moth farming 

 and since then I have found it to be 

 one of the most enjoyable avocations. 

 There seems to be a dearth of literature 

 at moderate prices, especially concern- 

 ing moths, and only a few more expen- 

 sive books within the reach of the aver- 

 age beginner, which help in identifying 

 the specimens. It is my purpose to 

 write a leaflet describing the forms 

 common in the United States, with 

 their larvae and pupae. But in order 

 to ascertain which of the many kinds 

 are commonest and most widespread 

 in this country, I desire to obtain lists 

 of fifteen of the larger moths arranged 

 according to frequency and general 

 familiarity. 



If you are acquainted in even the 

 smallest degree, or know of some one 

 that is so acquainted with the moths of 

 your locality, will not you or your 

 friend make out and send to me two 

 lists of fifteen moths each, in the groups 

 Sphingidae, Saturniidae and Ceratoc- 

 ampidae ; one arranged according to or- 

 der of personal familiarity and the other 

 according to order of frequency in your 

 locality? 



If you desire to refer to a book on 

 moths, you will find Holland's as good 

 as any. although there are several oth- 

 ers. 



In case you have had experience with 

 moths, I wish you would take into con- 

 sideration the frequency of larvae, pu- 

 pae and imago in preparing- the lists. 



In order to make the series of statis- 

 tics as accurate and as great a help in 

 the study of nature as possible, there 

 should be numerous lists, from all sec- 

 tions of the country, for comparison. 

 Your help will be greatly appreciated. 



I shall be glad to correspond at any 

 time with any one who has been rais- 

 ing Lepidoptera or desires to learn any- 

 thing along these lines. — Russell T. 

 Des Jardins, 310 North Monroe Street, 

 Albion, Michigan. 



The Eggs of the Walking-Stick 

 Insect. 



White i Mains, New York. 

 To the Editor: 



It was with great interest that I read 

 your account of the walking-stick insect 

 and looked at her picture. Now is the 

 time to get others. At this period of 

 year the insects reach maturity. They 

 feed mainly on the oaks. The females 

 drop their eggs as they walk about, and 

 where they are at all abundant, it is said 

 that the eggs as they strike the dry leaves 

 under the trees make a sound like the pat- 

 ter of raindrops. There are two species 

 here, as I am told by my friend, Mr. W. 

 T. Davis of Staten Island, who is well in- 

 formed on the grasshoppers and their 

 allies, the roaches, the Orthoptera or 

 straight winged insects, to which group 

 the Diapheromera belongs. You will re- 

 ceive in a few days some eggs that I ob- 

 tained last year from specimens caught 

 in the fall. Some of the eggs hatched out 

 in the spring just as the trees were bud- 

 ding in tender leaves. I could not give 

 the young proper care so they failed to 

 survive. 



Sincerely yours, 



J. R. DE LA Torre BuEno, 



A Diamond Day. 



Do you know what is meant by a diamond da\'? 



All sparkle and sheen and shine, 

 When it really seems that this staid old 

 earth 



Is fired by a spark divine? 



When gone are the swirls of drenching rain, 



The vapors of yesterday 

 And the west wind blows, and the clouds de- 

 part, 



And the sun comes out to stay? 



Oh then we see a beauteous world, 

 And could almost dance for joy; 



With the blue so blue, and the green so 

 green, 

 It is like a brand new toy. 



And the sun is a-shimmer upon the trees, 

 And the up-turned face of the field, 



And the flowers have all had their faces 

 washed, 

 And the lake is a silver shield. 



And the feathered folk are so full of life, 



It is like a great beehive : 

 A new made Heaven, a new made earth, — 



How good to be alive ! 



— Emma Peirce. 



