418 Dr. Wallace on the Oak-feeding 
water, or ina large cage several sponges are suspended in order to 
maintain a fresh cool atmosphere. The two ends are moveable, that 
is, fastened with screws or hooks, in order occasionally to clear out 
from the interior the quantity of fine dust which comes from the 
moths; when the ends are open a pair of bellows will cause the 
dust to be blown out at the further end; this dust is very irritating 
to the air passages, and it is recommended to wear a veil when 
busy about the moths; a box 100 to 120 inches long will suffice 
for 1,000 cocoons; the cocoons should be suspended inside a few 
inches higher than the bottom of the cage, in rows or chaplets 
equalling in their length the breadth of the cage. The bottom should 
be of canvass for better ventilation. The cage should be placed 
in a shady well ventilated spot not too warm; it might be placed, 
supported on legs, under the shade of a tree or wall. The moths 
emerge at the beginning of August; cats must be dreaded, since 
they are attracted by the fluttering inside as it were of birds, and 
will spring on the cage and tear it to get at the prey; it should 
therefore be elevated on iron supports above their reach, say 5 feet 
high. Should it rain, a piece of oil cloth is thrown over the whole, 
so disposed as to throw off the rain ; metallic gauze is unsuited for 
these cages, it would injure the moths too much, and would rust 
where the eggs were laid and probably injure them.* 
The method employed by Mons. Chavannes differs somewhat 
and is as follows: A muff-shaped cylinder of gauze or cotton is 
constructed about 40 inches high and 18 to 20 inches in diameter. 
Three iron wire rings keep this in shape, one at each end, round 
which the material is fastened so as to form a floor by which the moth 
is prevented from making its exit. A little opening is arranged at 
the upper end in order to introduce the moths; towards evening 
the moths are placed therein ; if thought desirable only one pair of 
moths may be placed therein, in which case they do not flutter so 
as to spoil their wings; after coition the females may all be placed 
in one cylinder to lay their eggs. These cylinders are easy to 
make and to hang up wherever it is wished, viz. in a tree during 
night ; but if made with sloping sides like Mons. Personnat’s: cage, 
and dyed ofa tan colour, they would perhaps be better. These 
cylinders are more suitable for a limited number of moths. 
In cultivating the Yamamai on a large scale for the commercial 
value of the cocoon, two crops may be in view. 1. The cocoons 
* From this cage, in 1864, Mons, Personnat obtained from 640 cocoons the 
large quantity of 242 grammes of eggs. Revue de Sériciculture, 1865, p. 80. 
