185 



if not all, would be lost if placed at once in a large 

 cage. 



Probably the entomologist has a supply of eggs of one 

 or more kinds, some of which may be batching now ; if 

 so, each kind must be treated separately in the manner 

 just described, and careful watch must be kept on them, 

 in order that the young larvEe may be placed upon their 

 food whenever they make their appearance. 



The genial influence of April has already restored the 

 hibernating larvse of Lasiocampa ruhi and Phragmatohia 

 fuliginosa to animation. For a short time they wander 

 about in search of suitable places wherein to spin their 

 webs. Both are conspicuous hairy caterpillars, which, 

 when obtained, should be placed in the large wire-gauze 

 box, previously furnished with moss ; there they will 

 readily undergo their transformations. The cocoons, which 

 were spxm before the entomologist sought for the insects, 

 may be found amongst the short thick grass or other herb- 

 age growing in the places frequented by them. These 

 should be carefully taken from their original situations, 

 conveyed home in a sandwich box, and laid gently on the 

 surface of the moss in the cage. In due time good speci- 

 mens will be the reward of industrious attention. Like 

 the grasses, the reeds are obeying the genial influence 

 of spring, and are already ornamenting their natural 

 localities with tall stems and green leaves. They are 

 the food of various species of Leucania and Nonagria, and 

 should, therefore, now be examined. 



The sandhills also are losing the bleak and desolate 

 appearance which they had in winter, and are gradually 

 becoming covered with vegetation. The Stargrass 

 (Carex arenaria) is springing up also, and its young 

 shoots afford food for the larva; of Leucania littoralis, 

 which should be sought in the latter part of this month. 



It is a singular fact, that almost from the first expanding 

 24 



