COLLECTING. 103 



net is let off by a kind of trigger, when the pieces of whale- 

 bone again become parallel. This weapon, like the armour 

 worn at a lord mayor's show, is little more than a gaudy 

 incumbrance. 



The pupae of butterflies are mostly to be found suspended 

 in out-houses and sheds, on walls, palings, trunks of trees, 

 &c., and those of moths are to be obtained plentifully in the 

 winter and spring, by digging at the roots of trees and in 

 gardens. 



The caterpillars of butterflies and moths are to be found 

 in abundance on the leaves of trees throughout the sum- 

 mer, and may be beaten or shaken into a clap-net and taken 

 home in tin boxes. To rear caterpillars it is necessary to 

 be provided with numerous square cages ; the lower part, 

 for about a third of the height, should be of tolerably strong 

 wood-work, and the upper part a mere frame covered with 

 gauze. The lower part is better if lined with tin or lead, 

 and must be filled with earth, in which many of the cater- 

 pillars will bury themselves previously to assuming the 

 chrysalis state ; sprigs of the plants on which the caterpil- 

 lars feed, should be stuck into a narrow-necked vial filled 

 with water, and placed within the cage, and the caterpillars 

 should be placed on the leaves. The cages must be kept 

 in a cool, and, if possible, a moist situation. The larva? 

 will do as well thus artificially reared, as in a state of na- 

 ture ; they will spin among the leaves, or on the sides of 

 the cage, or hide themselves in the earth ; in nearly every 

 instance the moths will emerge rather before than after the 

 usual time, and will generally be more perfect and finer 

 specimens than can be obtained in any other way. In the 

 cages in which caterpillars are thus reared ichneumons will 

 be constantly making their appearance, and these should 

 be preserved with great care, and if it is known on what 

 species of lepidopterous insect they are parasitical, the fact 



