364 



INSECT MISCELLANIES. 



highly important for the use of such larvtB as con- 

 struct their cocoons of rotten wood. The chief ad- 

 vantages of a breeding-cage of the above description 

 are the occupation of less room than five separate 

 cages, and a diminution of expense, both important 

 considerations when any person is engaged exten- 

 sively in rearing insects. Whatever be the construc- 

 tion of the box, it is highly necessary that the larvse 

 be constantly supplied with fresh food, and that the 

 earth at the bottom should be kept damp. To ac- 

 complish the latter object, I keep a thick layer of 

 moss upon the surface, which 1 take out occasionally, 

 perhaps once a week in hot weather, and once a 

 fortnight or three weeks in winter, and saturate 

 completely with water, and return it to its place : 

 this keeps up a sufficient supply of moisture, without 

 allowing the earth to become too wet, which is 

 equally injurious to the pupse with too much aridity. 

 By numbering the cells, and keeping a register 

 corresponding with the numbers, the history of any 

 particular larvse or brood may be traced*." 



We prefer glass sides to the cells, with gauze 

 doors, opening above, rather than at the sides, ac- 

 cording to the following figure t- 



Breeding-cage, with gauze doors and glasi' sides. 



Some of the beautiful experiments of Bonnet and 

 Jleaumur suggested to us the idea of supplying in- 

 * In^pen's ' Instructions/ p. I'd. f J.R. 



