42 



FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT 



[Fig. 25.] 



In the hands of the careful breeder, an insect may be secured 

 against its numerous natural enemies, and against vicissitudes of 

 climate ; and will consequently be more apt to mature than in a state 

 of nature. Yet the great secret of successful breeding lies in other- 

 wise supplying, as far as possible, the natural conditions. The breed- 

 ing of aquatic insects requires properly arranged aquaria, and is 

 always attended with the difficulty of furnishing a proper supply of 

 food. The transformations of many others, both aquatic and terres- 

 trial, can only be studied by close and careful out-door observation. 

 But the great majority of insect larvae may be reared to the perfect 

 state indoors, where their mauoeuverings may be constantly and con- 

 veniently watched. For the feeding of small species, glass jars and 

 wid«-mouthed bottles will be found useful. The mouths should be 

 covered with gauze or old linen, fastened either by thread or rubber; 

 and a few inches of moist earth at the bottom will furnish a retreat 

 for those which enter it to transform, and keep the atmosphere in a 

 moist and fit condition. 



For larger insects I use a breed- 

 ing cage or vivarium of my own 

 devising, and which answers the 

 purpose admirably. It is repre- 

 sented in figure 25, and com- 

 prises three distinct parts: 1st, 

 the bottom board (a), consisting 

 of a square piece of inch-thick 

 walnut with a rectangular zinc 

 pan (;f), 4 inches deep, fastened 

 to it, above, and with two cross 

 pieces {gg) below, to prevent 

 cracking or warping, facilitate 

 lifting, and allow the air to pass 

 underneath the cage. 2d, a box 

 (J), with three glass sides and a 

 glass door in front, to fit over the 

 zinc pan. 3d, a cap (c), which 

 fits closely on to the box, and has 

 a top of fine wire gauze. To the 

 center of the zinc pan is soldered 



a zinc tube (6?) just large enough 



to contain an ordinary quinine bottle. The zinc pan is filled with 

 clean sifted earth or sand {e), and the quinine bottle is for the recep- 

 tion of the food-plant. The cage admits of abundant light and air, 

 and also of the easy removal of excrement and frass which falls to the 

 ground ; while the insects in transforming enter the ground or attach 

 themselves to the sides or the cap, according to their habits. The 

 most convenient dimensions I find to be 12 inches square and 18 inches 



