SPRING. 
47 
to the latter end of May, is the most abundant 
period for Spring caterpillars ; or, if the sea- 
son be very backward, from the beginning to 
the middle of June; and every exertion should 
be made to obtain as many of each sort as can 
be conveniently supplied with food. They 
require to be very delicately handled, and de- 
posited in the box carried for the purpose, 
putting with them some leaves of the different 
plants on which they are found, and not for- 
getting to carry home a good supply. When 
taken home, put them immediately into the 
breeding cage ; and when it is necessary to re- 
move them, to supply fresh food, examine the 
leaves that none be thrown away. 
The butterflies are day fliers, and many 
species are to be taken on the wing, from 
March to September. A simple method will 
often bring them down even in their most rapid 
flight, and has been successfully employed in 
taking the Purple Emperor butterfly, i^Apa- 
tura Iris,) namely, to throw up a stone or 
piece of tile before them, which they will often 
fly down after and alight on the ground, and 
are then easily captured. Some species will 
visit a single blossom, although disturbed half 
a dozen times ; and thus, by watching their 
