FIELD WORK ON LEPIDOPTERA. 121 



during the day; but, when fully grown, will either spin a 

 cocoon in some nook among the leaves or will go off into 

 some secluded place and "pout" until you give them a 

 box of earth, when they will disappear by burrowing 

 beneath the soil; and that will be the last of them you 

 will see for some days, weeks, or months, according to 

 what kind of a caterpillar you have. The earth for this 

 box should be sifted and should not be very dry. The 

 top of the soil should be lightly sprinkled occasionally, 

 and ought to be kept in some cool place, as cool as possible 

 and still be above freezing. Some caterpillars spend the 

 winter in such burrows where the temperature is much 

 below that of the house. Even with all your care in 

 keeping the box cool, the butterfly or the moth will 

 usually appear before his outdoor brothers and sisters 

 have stirred in their winter beds. The perfection of skill 

 would be reached if you arranged to have some blooming 

 plants ready for your moths and butterflies to feed on. 

 Sweet alyssum or petunias might be tried. 



Arrange matters so that you can stay in some flower 

 garden from sundown till eight or nine o'clock, when the 

 flowers are in full bloom and the moon is near the full. 



As the twilight comes on, which flowers disappear 

 first? 



Which flowers can you still see just between dark 

 and moon rise? 



Can you discover any insects working during early 

 twilight? Are they moths or butterflies? 



Do any insects come after moon rise ? What brought 

 them ? How do they find what they want ? 



As a general proposition, do moths and butterflies 

 confer benefit or do they do harm? In the late summer, 

 moths and butterflies may be secured for the collection 



