187 



their old haunts, the bark peels oflf leaving traces of 

 Cossus ligniiDerda but too apparent. Trees presenting 

 the ravages of former tenants are to be found every- 

 where, but broods at present existing are not so easily 

 discovered. How are the full-grown larva; to be found, 

 when the bark which covers them appears uninjured? 

 They require air, and to admit it there must be holes 

 somewhere. These holes serve also another purpose, 

 which betrays them ; as they advance tlirough the tree' 

 their excrement fills up the gallery behind, so that 

 when they retrace their steps a quantity is necessarily 

 ejected; this falls to the ground, unless projecting 

 bark, a branch, or something else detains it more con- 

 spicuously. Their fetid smell also betrays them at a 

 considerable distance. Of course their position makes 

 them difficult to obtain ; but it sometimes happens that full- 

 grown ones are immediately under the bark. These are 

 pretty easily secured, and should be treated as follows. 



In a confectioner's glass jar place a portion of a living 

 branch of the tree in which the larvge were found, and 

 also a quantity of sawdust. If the jar in which the 

 caterpillars are established be kept free from mould, all 

 will go well, and the tenants will gi^e Httle trouble. 

 They are full-fed in autumn, become pupee m spring, and 

 assume the winged state in June and July. 



Our next species in this series will be the JSphinx, 

 ^geria hemUciformis, which we will not attempt to rear in 

 an artificial breeding cage, but which we leave to nature. 

 The larvas of this species feed in the Hving wood under 

 the bark of poplars, and are so difficult to rear by artificial 

 means that the attempt is almost useless. They assume 

 the pupa state about the end of May or early in June, 

 and fly in briglit weather at the end of ;ixmQ or during 

 July ; on cloudy days and at night they are at rest upon 

 the trunk.s of trees, foliage, &c., and are then seldom 



