278 - fMay. 



It is somofcimes considered desirable, and occasionally even absolutely necessary, 

 to supply captured larvae with food procured, if not off the same tree or shrub, at 

 least from the same locality as that in which they previously fed. 



The larvae of local coast species are at times exceedingly hard to rear when 

 the attempt is made to feed them up in inland situations — in such cases it is 

 frequently imperative to procure food from the sea-side ; but there is another 

 ingenious alternative, namely, to damp the food with sea-water, of which a supply 

 must be kept on hand for the purpose, as, for example, in breeding Mamestra 

 ahjecta, &c., though sometimes even a substitute food, when sprinkled with sea 

 brine, will answer instead of the native food, as in the instance of Bomiyx castrensiSy 

 which will thrive on pickled wild cherry. 



All food should be rigidly searched over for cannibals and other vermin before 

 admitting it to our breeding-cages. 



When lichens and mosses have to be employed as food, it is well to collect 

 them damp and with the substance to which they are attached adherent if possible, 

 and they should be renewed whenever they cease to look fresh ; but the old food 

 should not be hastily cast away ; it should be put by, under cover, and carefully 

 watched from time to time for any larvae which may turn up, especially if at the 

 time of changing any were missing ; and this reminds me that it is well to know 

 the number of individuals in a brood, for one can then be certain whether they have 

 or have not all been shifted. And it may also be laid down as a general rule that 

 there is much greater chance of a successful result in the way of images when we are 

 content with a moderate number of larvae, than when we collect, or retain for 

 ourselves after egg-hatching, a large crowd of the larvae of any species. 



For information respecting the management of internal stem or root-feeders, 

 seed-feeders, &c., the reader is referred to former papers at pages 195, 217. 



Wood-feeders may be kept in flower-pots or wide-mouthed bottles, with wire- 

 gauze covers, or in tins,* being allowed either to remain in the logs, branches, or 

 twigs in which they were originally feeding when removed, or else supplied with the 

 fresh cut (but not wet) sawdust and chips of their food. The tins should be freely 

 perforated, and a sharp eye should be kept for mildew, which, when present, should 

 be removed, and fresh food supplied. These remarks similarly apply to bark- 

 feeders. 



Larvae feeding on vegetable refuse, dried fruit, honeycomb, feathers, hair, dung, 

 &c., may be kept supplied with their food in suitable boxes ; no particular pre- 

 caution being necessary beyond secm-ing the prisoners fr-om escape, and the prevention 



of mould. 



{To he continued.) 



Note on the habits of the larva nf Grammesia trilinea. — In June, 1864, 1 obtained 

 eggs of this species from moths taken at flowers of yeUow-rattle, the larvae from 

 which appeared during the same month. A few of these I put on a broad-leaved 

 plantain in a flower-pot, and soon saw signs of their taking to their food. After a 

 time, however, I missed them, and at first concluded that they had been eaten by 

 some spider, slug, centipede, ant, or other wild beast ; still I kept the gauze 

 covering on the flower-pot, and finding that the plantain was continually kept level 



* Nothing in streiiijth short of tin or earthenware and wire gauze will defy the jaws of Cottut, 



