INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING INSECTS. 193 



In another place Mr. Green remarks : " With rc^SLvd to localities, 

 the hest are unqiiestionably parks and meadows with scattered timber 

 trees. Those trees from which the surrounding grass has been worn 

 away by the feet of cattle, and those situated on the borders or banks 

 of streams, dykes, &c., when the soil is dry and friable, will be found 

 the most remunerative. When the roots of trees, particularly large 

 ones standing alone, form angles, pup;e will nearly always be found 

 in the spaces ; the trowel should then be inserted at least eight inches 

 from the trunk and to the depth of about four. In digging round a 

 tree, whose roots form no angles, it is not necessary to go deeper than 

 three inches, nor farther from the trunk than four. Always replace 

 the sod when you have done with it, or at least the debris. When 

 first taken up, the sod may be so hard as to render it impossible for 

 the caterpillar to penetrate it ; but if, after beiag loosened by the 

 pupa3-digger's manipulation, it be restored to its place, the larva, 

 which, in the original instance, would have wandered away to some 

 more convenient spot, will now find one ready made, and will almost 

 certainly make use of it." 



" He should have a small box, filled with damp moss, for the purpose 

 of carrying the pup?o, which should be handled as seldom as possible, 

 and with the utmost tenderness. I may here remark, that some of 

 the pupa3 may dry up. This is caused by some unlucky, probably 

 unseen, injury, inflicted at the time of capture, and, however great his 

 caution, will not unfrequently occur." The best months for digging 

 are July and August for the summer and autumn specimens, and 

 September, October, and November, for the following spring and sum- 

 mer insects. Mr. Green has found the months of September and 

 October the most remunerative to the pupa3 hunter. 



In order to rear the pupas thus collected, " when brought home they 

 should be placed in a large box, with the inside surface rough, and 

 covered with gauze or wire frame ; at the bottom of the box should be 

 some fine earth on which the pupfe are to be placed and covered with 

 a thick layer of moss, which may or may not be occasionally damped. 

 JBe sure to keep them from the sun." It is best also to keep them 

 exposed to the external air during winter. The one obvious principle 

 to be observed, as far as possible, is always to place them under the 

 natural conditions in which they were first found. The student may 

 also derive from pupa3 hunting valuable hints, at least respecting the 

 food plants of many larvre, and the periods of the season during which 

 they may be found near maturity. 



now TO PACE LEPIDOPTERA FOR EXCHANGE, ETC. 



In order to send insects to a distance safely, a box well made, of 

 light, thin material, should be obtained. It should be double, the 

 two portions attached together by hinges, and the bottoms lined with 

 cork, glued down, and covered with unsized paper; it should be about 

 twelve inches square, and each portion an inch and one-half deep, 

 before the cork lining is added ; but if the collector uses pins longer 

 than an inch and a fourth it should be deeper. The pins containing 

 specimens should be introduced firmly in the cork, and enough of the 



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