A FEW ORTHOPTERA EKOJI SWITZERLAND. I 



A Breeding Cage {with plate). 



By J. C. DOLLMAN. 

 The five figures sketched in the illustration to this subject, repre- 

 sent the component parts of a breeding-cage, which the writer, after 

 over a year's trial, can recommend on the score of its simplicity, 

 economy of construction, and efficiency of service. Fig. 1 is an 

 ordinary wire gauze meat-safe with tin back, top and bottom ; the 

 front and sides being covered with the gauze. The hook provided inside 

 can be removed. This item can be purchased for about six. shillings 

 at the size of 24 inches in height ; the back and top, inside, should be 

 I'ubbed with earth, or have some fabric stuck to them to facilitate the 

 hold of the insects when climbing to develop their wmgs. Fig. 2, 

 represents a framework of stout wire rod, about the substance of a slate 

 pencil. This is made one inch larger in width and depth than the 

 cage, and the legs should extend a couple of inches below the wooden 

 platform. This platform, on which the cage is to stand, can be firmly 

 held in position by wire staples round the legs, being well hammered 

 home. Fig. 3 is a common tin baking-dish, and should be large 

 enough for the four legs of the frame to stand comfortably upon its 

 fiat bottom. Fig. 4 shows the frame covered on the front and sides. 

 This covering may be either old flannel or a double thickness of stout 

 serge, or any material which will I'eadily absorb, and hold, water. 

 The material employed should be allowed to come to the full length of 

 the legs and to hang below the platform, so that it will rest upon the 

 bottom of the tin dish. Fig. 5 gives the apparatus in position. Fill 

 the baking-dish two-thirds full of water and stand the covered frame 

 in it, seeing that the bottom edge of its coverings is well down in the 

 water to the bottom of the dish. The breeding-cage can now be 

 placed on the platform, and should have an inch of space left all round 

 between it and the covering of the frame. The strong recommenda- 

 tion which this apparatus has is this — the water absorbed by the 

 flannel, to about one-third of its height, keeps the atmosphere damp 

 in and round the cage, while the open space allowed by the extra inch 

 permits the air to circulate freely and freshly. The result of this is 

 tliat, while the atmosphere of the cage is damp, there is no possibility 

 of producing mildew. There is no wetting of earth, moss, sand, or 

 whatever material the pupte may be stored in or upon, and the 

 conditions are possibly as near an approach to natural ones as can be 

 arrived at. The percentage of cripples emerging is almost nil, and 

 there is no anxiety as to whether this or that species wants damping, 

 as one glance at the flannel covering will tell one whether the dish 

 requires more water or not. The entire concern being very compact it 

 can be easily removed from one room to another, according as the 

 question of temperature has to be considered. 



A few Orthoptera from Switzerland. 



By MALCOLM BURR, B.A., F.L.S., F.E.S. 

 During a short holiday in Switzerland, in September last, I picked 

 up a few orthoptera in the neighbourhood of Caux, above Montreux. 

 The locality is doubtless well-known to many readers of the Kntoinulo- 

 i/ut's llccord. We were staying at Caux. a village consisting chiefly of 

 two hotels, at an elevation of 1100 metres. It is a grand spot, 

 commanding a splendid view of Lac Leman, the Rhone valley, the 



