938 ' THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
A WINTER. OCCUPATION FOR LEPIDOPTERISTS. 
By Georges Enis. 
As the time is now approaching for collecting the various 
species of the leaf-mining genera, Lithocolletis and Nepticua, in 
the larval state, viz., October:and November, perhaps a short 
description of a forcing apparatus I successfully tried during the 
early part of this year may be useful and new to some of the 
readers of the ‘Entomologist.’ .It is a great advantage to be 
able to breed these minute insects at a time of year when there 
is scarcely anything else to be done entomologically, and to get 
them all out, well set, and in the cabinet some weeks before the 
natural time of their appearance. In the month of May, when 
species begin crowding upon us, it is almost impossible to spare 
the necessary time to set these species in any quantity, and as 
carefully as they should be. The consequence is, they are apt to 
become neglected, and possibly cause the collector to give up 
studying the Tineina—that most interesting portion of the 
Lepidoptera. 
My apparatus consists simply of a box, ten inches square and 
six inches deep, open at the top and lned with thin zine. 
A zine tray is made to fit the top, one inch and a half deep, to 
contain damp sand. Underneath on the tray is soldered a much 
smaller tray, an inch deep, which forms the boiler ;.a short piece 
of pipe is soldered in the upper tray, through which to fill the 
boiler. The tray is then put on the box,—the edges being made 
larger prevents its falling through,—and underneath is placed a 
spirit lamp, or jet of gas, the flame being barely a quarter of an 
inch long, which is quite sufficient to give a great and regular 
heat. A square hole is cut in the side of the box in front, to put 
the hand through to regulate the light, and on the opposite side, 
just underneath the tray, a few holes are drilled in the box for 
ventilation, or the light will go out. Above the tray, and resting 
on the damp sand, is a square zine glazed case, eight inches 
high; the top square of glass is loose to lift out, for placing the 
‘bottles or glass jars in containing the pupe, and also to regulate 
the heat. When all is ready, fill the boiler nearly to the top 
with water. Then fill the trap with damp sand to give a moist 
atmosphere, and put on the glazed case. After which, put in © 
the jars containing the leaves mined by the larve, and in the 
