180 INSECT BREEDING. 



When the eggs are hatching, place instead of 

 the cylinder, a tumbler over the food-plant, and 

 keep it over the young larvae until they are large 

 enough to be removed. This prevents their 

 wandering too far away from their food, which is 

 an important point when the larvae are very small. 

 Many larvae, and especially the Geometrse, require 

 but little depth of earth in which to turn ; there- 

 fore, when they are about to assume their proper 

 state, place a little mould on the calico, which 

 will be found to be all that is necessary. How- 

 ever, for those that require a greater depth of 

 earth it is advisable that the larvae, when nearly 

 full fed, be removed into other quarters. 



I then found the following plan a good one. 

 Procure a fern-pot,^ to the rim of which have 

 fitted a cylinder of perforated zinc, so that it can 

 be removed on and off; across the top of the 

 cylinder stretch muslin, and fasten it round the 

 top by means of string. In the centre of the 

 fern-pot place a small gallipot having a lid of per- 

 forated zinc, in which make several large holes 

 for the admission of the food-plant. The space 

 round the gallipot fill up with mould. 



^ Fern-pots are to be got at potteries. Pascal of Chisel- 

 hurst supplies them of all sizes. 



