PRESERVATION OF ENTOMOLOGICAL SPECIMENS. 141 



that the dates of all changes noted with reference to the insect 

 being watched are carefully recorded. Information on the 

 following points would be required : — 



I. Speciea of trees felled or from which specimens were 

 taken. Name of forest and locality, with elevation ; 

 and if the tree was felled, date of felling. Also state 

 whether the tree was alive and vigorous when felled or 

 otherwise. Also on what part the insects were feeding 

 — wood, leaf, or fruit. 

 II. Date of egg-laying whenever observed. Method of 

 laying the eggs, with description of the number, size 

 and markings. A few eggs or egg-capsules should be 

 always preserved. 

 III. Date of appearance of larva, length of time passed in 

 the larval stage, and nature of food and damage done 

 by it. Also whether it is solitary or gregarious in 

 habit, and whether a day or night feedei-. The number 

 of moultings or changes of skin passed through by the 

 larva should be mentioned, with a description of the 

 caterpillar ia each stage of its growth. A few larvae 

 should always be preserved in spirit. 

 IV. Date of changing of larva into the pupal stage, and length 

 of time passed in this stage. Also description of the 

 pupa. It should be stated whether the pupa is enclosed 

 in a cocoon or not. If it is, the nature of the cocoon 

 should be stated. It should also be noted whether, if 

 the larva hibernates during the winter months, it does 

 so as a larva enclosed in a cocoon, or whether as soon as 

 it has formed the cocoon it changes into the pupal state 

 and hibernates as a pupa. A few pupte should always 

 be preserved in spirit. 

 V. Date of appearance of the imago. Description of both 

 the female and male insects. Also a note as to the 

 damage done by them, and the time, method, and 

 position of laying the eggs. 



If the insect is reared at home, the dates of obtaining the eggs 

 or larvfe or pupje, as the case may be, should be given, and the 

 dates of the appearance of the other stages in the metamorphosis. 



Dates of periods passed in the various stages, descriptions as 

 far as possible, and nature of damage done, with the locality and 



