182 CATERPILLARS. 
gradually eat away the whole inside of their victims, leaving nothing but 
the empty skin. Of course the earlier in life we obtain our caterpillars 
the more likely they are to be free from these pests, though we shall 
naturally have more trouble in rearing them. It is a choice of evils; 
but certainly it is worth while to take any amount of trouble rather than 
have our hopes destroyed by the appearance of a vicious-looking Ichneu- 
mon in the place of the moth we were so anxiously looking for. 
It is well to provide a few pieces of bark and a little moss, or a few 
dead leaves, in our breeding cages for the caterpillars to hide under 
when not feeding, as they often enjoy a dark and cool place; and these 
also prove very useful when they are changing to the pupa state. We 
should also be careful to disturb our charges ag little as possible while 
they are changing their skins, as they are then peculiarly liable to injury. 
But after all the best way to learn all the ‘‘ dodges” with respect to 
caterpillar-rearing is to practise it regularly and steadily, observing 
carefully the habits of the different species, and treating them in 
accordance with what we know about their habits.. Let me conclude by 
strongly recommending this practice of rearing caterpillars to all the 
young collectors who may be present. There are plenty of discoveries 
to be made in this field of observation. Thecaterpillars of our butterflies 
are many of them hardly known, and those of many moths very little 
more so. And until we know the habits of the caterpillar we can tell 
very little comparatively about the perfect insect. Above all, it is in this 
stage of the insect’s life that we can exercise upon it most abundantly 
that faculty of observation which exists in all of us, but which requires 
exercise in order to bring out its full capacity, which, if we exercise it 
as we should do, will enable us indeed to find 
Tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, 
Sermons in stoues, and good in‘everything. 
MARINE ZOOLOGY AT ARRAN.—IL* 
BY W. R. HUGHES, F.L.§. 
The third marine excursion of the Birmingham Natural History and 
Microscopical Society, and the second annual one which was made to the 
Island of Arran for a week in the middle of July of last year, quite 
fulfilled the expectations of its promoters, and increased our knowledge 
of the marine zoology of the district, besides adding to it three specimens 
of Nudibranchs which have not been recorded in the very useful and 
interesting hand-book of the Island written by the late Dr. Bryce. A 
larger number of members than usual joined the party, which consisted 
of six ladies and twenty-two gentlemen. And it is significant as 
indicating the humanising influence which the study of natural history 
has upon the mindsof those brought into communion with it, that the 
number included gentlemen of diverse political and religious opinions 
who do not often unite together for a common work; and as a natural 
* Abstract of paper read before the Birmingham Natural History and 
Microscopical Society, 17th June, 1879. 
