32 Mr. F. Merrifield's Practical suggestions and 



and handy one is a jam-pot, with the edge ground down smooth 

 and covered with a piece of very fine muslin, held in place by an 

 elastic-band, and having a piece of plate-glass laid over the top, and 

 occasionally shifted aside for ventilation , and to prevent the formation 

 of drops of water in which the larvae may drown. Though the pupae 

 is described as subterranean, it generally spins up between leaves. 



If growing trees are not available, the larvae should be reared in 

 a breeding-cage, standing in a cool airy place out of doors, well 

 supplied with food standing in water-bottles, the necks tightly 

 stuffed with moss, &c. The cage should have a thorough draught, 

 and for the sake of the healthiness of the food-plant it is recom- 

 mended that the top at least should be of glass. There may be an 

 inch of fine light earth covered with a layer of moss, often renewed. 

 All moss and earth should be baked to kill enemies. S. illmtraria 

 will eat birch, oak, ash, hawthorn, sallow, and alder, but the young 

 larvae sometimes will not take to all of these, therefore it may be 

 expedient to try them with more than one, and when they are 

 found to thrive on it they should be kept to it. It is stated to be 

 best to cut their food from the same tree and the same side of it. 

 With the precautions suggested, and a very frequent renewal 

 of the food-plant, it is believed that the larvae may be brought 

 up in out-door breeding-cages almost as successfully as by 

 "sleeving" them on growing trees. An occasional moistening 

 of the food with soft water from a scent-spray is useful, especially 

 if the breeding-cage is in an airy situation and the air is dry ; but 

 in this case particular care should be taken to remove the layer of 

 moss with the frass and dead leaves collected on it, and at the first 

 symptom of mould or mildew the process should be stopped. All 

 the broods (long-, medium-, and short-winged) should be given the 

 same food-plant and treated in the same way. 



Pupce. — As to the pupae, it is believed the best way is to keep 

 them out of doors, sheltered from rain, and laid in their slight 

 cocoons on earth covered with moss, and prevented from drying up 

 by placing the box containing them in a situation which will cause 

 the earth to be slightly moist at bottom, or, if this cannot be 

 arranged, by occasional watering with soft water from a scent-spray. 

 Though these pupae are generally found naturally in dry situations, 

 they are there continually exposed to more or less moist air, and 

 are in the winter rarely removed more than an inch or two from 

 moist earth ; and it has been found that if the leaves in which they 

 are spun up become quite dry, the moth has a difficulty in coming 

 out. The pupae should be occasionally looked at, and a watch kept 

 for insect enemies, including the larvae of the Tinese. It would be 

 prudent to protect them against severe frost. 



