November .Sg^.J J'SVCBE. 431 



perfectlv. Having beheaded one or two in For travelling lliis method is deliglitfiil. I 



closing the cover of the tin. we tlien cnt pack each tin as fnll of leaves as I can and 



pieces of scrim a little larger than the tops leave space for the larvae, shut it tight, I'oll 



of the boxes, laid a piece over each box, and it in paper to prevent possibilitv of opening, 



shut the cover over it, thns preventing fur- and pack all the tins in my trunk. I have 



ther executions, and also preventing cocoons never had a larva die from such a journey, 



from fastening box and cover together. even when the leaves have been devoured 



The "tin-box method" lia.s man_y advan- before its end, and Ihc larva must have rat- 



tages : — the laivae are very easy to watch, tied in its box. 



and are so shut up that the^' cannot get out Of cour.se it is a deal of work to lake 



and wander over the house to the annoyance proper care of a hundred or more tins, but 



of non-entomoIogical persons. Parasites the results pay well. 



cannot find them unless introduced on the The danger is of over-crowding, but expe- 



food plant, a very unlikely occurrence. The rience soon reduces this to a minimum, 



leaves keep perfectly fresh as long as needed. Biscuit-tins, candy-tins, marsh-mallow tins, 



if their stems have been put into water for coffee tin.s, baking-powder tins, spice-tins, 



an hour or so before they are given to the all have their uses for difterent sizes or num- 



caterpillars. hers of larvae, and may almost aiways be 



Most of the larvae which go into the ground obtained at a liotel or boarding-house. I 



to pupate will pupate j^ust as well on the hot- have even been thanked for ridding tlie 



tom of a tin box, without any earth. In the housekeeper of her superfluous tin boxes, 



case of P. celeiis, P. Carolina, C. iimyiitor, I have not reared every species of cater- 



and other laige larvae which exclude a large pillar, and there are many butterfly larvae 



quantity of tiuid, before [lupation, an inch of with which I have not experience, but I have 



sand in the tin gives better results, for it ab- never seen any species which did not thrive 



sorbes the fluid which otherwise tends to in tightly closed tins. 



make the larvae decay in process of pupation. Of course individuals die, but they woidd 



The Smerinthids, both Philampeli.s, and probably have died out of doors. It is rare 



the smaller sphingids pupate perfectly with- to rear every one of a large bi-ood, but 1 



out earth. I have had scores of them change, have done so more than once bv this 



each in its small tin — such as druggists sell method. 



I'or ointments, — as well as in larger boxes. Cai-nliiic G. Snti/c. 



Guide to the Geiit-ia and Classilicatiou of the Otthoptei'a of Nortli America 

 nortii of Mexico. Bv Samuel H. Scuddek. 90 pp. S°. 



Contains keys for the determination of the hiji'her groups as well as the 

 (nearh- 200) genei a of our Orthoptera, with full lilbllotrraphical aitls to further 

 study. Sent by mail on receipt of price ($1.00). 



E. W. WHEELER, 30 Boylston Street, Cambriiioe, Mass. 



