788 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



A PORTION OF THE INSECT COLLECTION. 



THE INSECT COLLECTION. 



DURING the summer of 1910 the exhibition 

 of a series of insects was regarded as an 

 experiment. Our visitors manifested so 

 much interest in the collection that it was decid- 

 ed to make it a ]>crmanent feature. During the 

 winter a large number of cocoons were placed on 

 exhibition in the Rejjtile House, and from thes-'. 

 visitors had an opportunity to observe both the 

 local and the larger tropical moths emerging- 

 daily. The entire insect collection is now on ex- 

 hibition in the ])avilion between the Small-Mam- 

 mal House and the Ostrich House, and it fills a 

 series of forty-four cages and twelve tanks. 



At present the most important feature of the 

 insect collection is the series of cocoons. It con- 

 tains specimens from Japan, eastern China. 

 India, Mexico and the LTnited States generally. 

 A certain number of moths emerging from these 

 cocoons are jjlaeed in breeding boxes. There is 

 little difficulty in hatching the eggs, and a later 

 feature of this display will be a series of the 

 larvae, or caterpillars, of these species. A gen- 

 erous number of the caterpillars are already 



feeding, and a fine brood of the commercial silk- 

 worm has spun the last of its cocoons. A panel 

 of these is on exhibition over a descriptive label. 

 The cocoons mentioned are of particularly lus- 

 trous and rich yellow silk. 



The finest moths emerging from our collection 

 of cocoons are being mounted, dried, and placed 

 in tablets of cotton, over which is fitted a glass 

 cover. On the back of each mount is a label 

 giving the name and habitat of the specimen. 

 These attractive mounts have proven popular as 

 Park souvenirs, but really serve a double pur- 

 pose. They are of value from an educational 

 point of view, because they may be handled by 

 cliildren without injury. We are able to sell 

 these mounts at very reasonable prices, and 

 tluy are ottered in the Bureau of Information 

 at the Lion House. From present indications 

 it ajjpears that the sale of these specimens will 

 cover the cost of the insect collection, including 

 specimens, cages and collecting p.iraphernalia. 

 Among tlie insects that have been exhibited, 

 mounted and sold are the huge Indian Atlas 

 Moth, (Attacus edtcardsea) , the Indian Luna 

 ]\Ioth, (Artias selene), the Japanese Silk Moths, 



SERIES OF INSECT CAGES. 



