12 



. 7. The following description of it is in his own 

 words. " The length of the box is twenty 

 inches ; height, twelve 3 and breadth, six ; and 

 it is divided into Jive compartments. Its lower 

 half is constructed entirely of wood, and the 

 upper of coarse gauze, stretched upon wooden 

 or wire frames 3 each compartment has a sepa- 

 rate door, and is moreover furnished with a phial 

 in the centre for the purpose of containing 

 water, in which the food is kept fresh 3 and is 

 half filled with a mixture of fine earth and the 

 dust from the inside of rotten trees 3 the latter 

 article being added for the purpose of rendering 

 the former less binding upon the pnpce, as well 

 as highly important for the use of such larvcB 

 as construct their cocoons of rotten wood. The 

 chief advantages of a breeding cage of the above 

 construc^tion are, the occupation of less room 

 than five separate cages, and a diminution of 

 expense ; both important considerations when 

 any person is engaged extensively in rearing 

 insects. Whatever be the construction of the 

 box it is highly necessary that the larvce be con- 

 stantly suppl'ed with fresh food, and that the 



