40 [July. 
until the spring. But not a few come forth during the warm days and evenings of 
winter and early spring to practise with their jaws. These latter, when reared in 
captivity, require some attention on the part of the breeder. Of a certainty 
however, as trees and shrubs, with the exception of evergreens, are bereft of foliage 
in winter, larvae feeding ordinarily upon them must, if they have to eat at this 
season, content themselves with other pabulum in the shape of non-deciduous 
plants, of which arhuius, laurustinits, ivy, heath, and fir are the greatest favourites, 
or low growing plants, such as forced seedlings of knotgrass (strongly recommended), 
chickweed and groundsel, plantain seeds, as well as grasses and mosses ; though in 
the case of some low feeding larvae, especially geometers {Acidalio}), they are quite 
satisfied with nibbling during the winter the withered leaves and stems of the 
plants on which they have been reared ; but this does not prevent their keeping a 
very sharp look-out for the earliest buds that come in spring. 
T may just note here that, as water in its metamorphosis to ice is apt to 
inconveniently expand our vessels, potatoes are serviceable not only as supplying 
moisture in its place, but also as a provender, it being sometimes found that larvae, 
on becoming aware of the presence of the tuber, have availed themselves of it 
as food. 
Hybemating hairy larvae must during the winter be kept dry, or in a well- 
ventilated place, othei'wise the damp seems to hang about their fur, and causes 
them to be attacked by a white fungus which creeps through their frame and 
speedily destroys them : smooth larvae, on the contrary, seem to reqixire the natural 
dampness of the soil. Most of the hybemating larvae of the Noctuce require hiding- 
places, seeming to quickly pine away if not freely supplied, for the purpose, with 
soil, dead leaves, &c. 
NOTK.— My friend Mr. Gibson strongly recommends that during the winter all 
cages containing larvae be placed in front of a window facing the east or north east, 
so that the inmates may be kept as cool as possible. This he considers of vast 
importance ; and his very great success in rearing hybemating larvae, so generally 
looked upon as stumbling-blocks in the path of the breeder, adds much force to his 
suggestion. As soon, however, as he can procure food, he suppUes them with it, 
and simultaneously endeavours to rouse them to activity with all the natural heat 
of sun-rays at his command. 
A word or two is necessary concerning the treatment of cannibal and viciously 
disposed larvae. Some, such as Cosmia trapetzina, have such depraved notions of 
gastronomy that they cannot always be trusted even with their own brothers and 
sisters, — these must, of course, be fed separately. Others, which devour with 
avidity the larvae of other species, feed up harmoniously enough inte^- se, such are 
the larvae of the blood-thirsty Scopelosom-a satellitia, Tccniocampa miniosa, and Crocallis 
elinguaria ; they must not be stinted in their food, though, for the cravings of a 
hungry stomach would probably render them conveniently oblivious of the ties of 
relationship. I suppose, too, they should be supphed with living animal food 
occasionally ; but it seems a horrible thing to recommend, and it is doubtful 
whether it be absolutely necessary. Again, certain larvse, though not actually 
carnivorously disposed, but not naturally meant to live gregariously, act in a 
quarrelsome, snappish, and vicious manner to other larvae crossing their path or 
interfering in any way with their comfort, often by their bite causing the victim to 
dwindle and eventually die : these individuals also should be placed in solitary 
