LABELLING INSECTS. 



639 



In the Museum there is an empty pupa-case with the cast 

 larval skin still adhering to it. The original label is preserved, 

 written by the person who reared the insect. It runs as follows : 

 " Oleander Moth : Caterpillar and skin and moth-bread." When 

 I first read the label I was puzzled, knowing bee-bread well 

 enough, but never having heard of " moth-bread." However, it 

 was soon apparent that the writer meant to express that the 

 Moth had been bred from the skins in question. 



This specimen came from Sierra Leone, and it is much to be 

 wished that other travellers would take the trouble to rear 

 insects, and to preserve the larvae and perfect skins as well as 

 the insect " bread " from them. 



The insect which is here given is a native of various portions 



Flo. 3,4. — Spliiux quinque-inacul:it;i 

 (Gi-ey, brown, and j-ellow.) 



of the United States, and it is a very pretty one, having much 

 the appearance of our common Puss Moth. 



The ground colour is a pale silver-grey, beautifully mottled 

 with chocolate-brown and black ; and if tlie light be favourable, 



