19 



The glass should be thick, called technically 21 -oz., and two pieces 

 12x9 inches make a convenient size. The wood required consists 

 of:— 



1 base 9 X 5 X f inches. 



2 supports 5x2x^ inches. 

 2 sides 14ixlfx^ inches. 



2 separating pieces VAx^xi inches for sides. 



1 separating piece 8x^x| inches for bottom. 



■1 supports for glass 12x|x-^ inches. 



1 cover 8| x ^ bare x ^ inch. 



The two supports are first nailed below the ends of the base, the 

 sides are then screwed on centrally, perpendicular to the ends of the 

 base, and the side and bottom distance pieces nailed centrally to the 

 sides and base respectively. The glass is then put against the 

 distance pieces on each side and the four supports for the glass put 

 in with a screw into each through the sides. The supports can be 

 removed easily for cleaning the glasses and setting up the cage 

 again after use. The ends of the cover are slotted and thinned so 

 that they can rest on the top of the side distance pieces, and are 

 held in position by means of screw eyes inserted into the ends of 

 the latter ; a half turn of the screw eyes holds the cover on, a very 

 necessary precaution as the beetles are very strong and active. A 

 piece of stout wire with the ends bent at right angles and passing 

 into two small staples driven into the side pieces near their upper 

 extremities holds these together at the top. A card hung on each 

 cage serves for recording dates and observations. 



Clean sieved soil {e.i/., top spit) is pressed into the cage layer by 

 layer to within about three inches of the top of the glass. For 

 Cr. tt^i^hoeiis, however, the sand in which one always finds these 

 insects should be employed. The soil should be damp but not too 

 wefc. If in the course of a few months it gets dry it should be 

 moistened from the top as drought is fatal to the successful develop- 

 ment of the insects. 



A "filling hopper " is a great convenience for putting in the 

 earth and also the food for the beetles. To make this get two pieces 

 of tin 4 X 21 inches. Rule a line down the middle of the length of 

 each, make cuts 1 inch long parallel to and haif-an-inch from each 

 end and then fold back the upper part of the tin in the same 

 direction as the strips at about an angle of 45°. One tin on the 

 top of each glass forms the hopper which can be used for any 

 number of cages. 



In the autumn one finds commonly under the same patch of cow 

 or horse dung, shafts containing (J. atercorarins and (t. s/iini!^er,a.nd 

 in certain localities, such as the New Forest, (r. imitator also, while 

 G. ti/pkoeus may likewise be met with, although it is generally more 

 associated with rabbits, deer and sheep. Perhaps G. sylraticns may 

 also be found with the above-mentioned beetles in the same spot. I 



