xlii European Butterflies and Moths. 



should be frequently opened. The morning or evening sun is good for lar\'?e, or at least not 

 injurious, but they should not be exposed to the hot raj-s of the sun by day. Heavy rain is 

 also injurious to them, for although they generally like a certain amount of moisture, the 

 damp which heavy rain leaves behind in the breeding-cages renders the atmosphere too 

 moist, and also spoils the food. When breeding-cages are kept out of doors, the best situation 

 is the north-east or north-west side of a building, or they may be placed in an outhouse. 

 Small cages for the larva: of Micro-Lcpidoptcra may be kept without hesitation in a room, or 

 in a cellar. 



Hybernation of Larva. — Larv<-E which pass the winter in the larva state require special 

 management. Altliough there are many which hybernate well enough under favourable circum- 

 stances, yet there are others which are so difficult to bring through it, that we may consider 

 ourselves fortunate if we can succeed in keeping only a few alive out of a large number. Larvje 

 hybernate best, as a rule, when they are about half-grown ; hybernation is more precarious when 

 they are either quite young or nearly full-grown. In general, larvje will hybernate best under 

 conditions as nearly as possible resembling those to which they are exposed in a natural condition ; 

 but it cannot always be said that more larva; die in captivity than in the open air during 

 hybernation, for there is no doubt that unfavourable weather in winter, or, more especially, 

 long-continued cold and rainy weather in spring, destroys great numbers of larvns ; and the larva; 

 in our breeding-cages are at least protected from such vicissitudes of the season. 



The larvK oi Macro-Lcpidoptera which have already passed through several moults in the autumn 

 may be put in boxes about eighteen inches long, ten or twelve inches broad, and ten inches deep. 

 These must be well made, and nailed together outside ; the lid must be provided with a large 

 opening covered with wire gauze, and it is advisable to have a similar network on the upper part of 

 one of the sides also. The bottom should be covered, two inches deep, with very fine earth mixed 

 with sand, on the surface of which should be laid flat stones and pieces of bark, which should all 

 be covered with an inch or two of moss, pressed down rather tightly, on the top of which dry 

 leaves should be laid. The larvse should be moved into these cages about the end of October, and 

 a few leaves of their food-plant should be put with them at first, in case they still require food. If 

 possible, the cages should be set on the ground in the open air, but in a sheltered situation, where 

 they are not immediately exposed to rain and snow. They should then be covered loosely with 

 dry leaves or straw, over which a board should be laid crosswise to prevent the covering being 

 blown away. If there is no place protected by a projecting roof, it is easy to nail two boards 

 together in a sloping position, and put them over the larva-cages for a roof If the winter is 

 severe, wdth much frost and snow, it is a good plan to cover the breeding-cages entirely with snow; 

 but needful precautions must be taken to prevent too much water leaking into them in case of a 

 thaw, and, if necessary, to remove the snow in time. When the weather is only moderately cold, 

 the snow covering is not only unnecessary, but rather injurious. When the winter is past, nothing 

 more remains to be done for the larv.ne but to take care that the moss in the cages does not become 

 dry during a continuance of fine mild weather, and to sprinkle it with water if necessary. The 

 larv£E can generally be kept healthy in this manner till the end of January, or when there is a 

 long frost till a thaw sets in ; but then comes the time when they generally begin to get sickl\-, 

 probably from too much moisture and too close an atmosphere. The boxes and their contents 

 should then be moved into a room without a fire, without disturbing them in any other way, but 

 they must then be kept sufficiently moist by frequent sprinkling. When the food-plant grows up. 

 it must be put into the cages, and afterwards, when the larvre have fairlj' left their winter quarters, 

 they must be moved into the ordinary breeding-cages ; but wc must not forget to look for any 



