APPENDIX I . 



INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING, REARING, PRESERVING, AND 

 STUDYING. 



HAPPILY the time is past when butterfly-collectors 

 devote their entire attention to the perfect insect. 

 They at least rear them from the caterpillar or chrysalis 

 to obtain fresher and more beautiful specimens for 

 their cabinets ; and it is to be hoped that any young 

 enthusiasts who may read this book will be quite as 

 ready to collect, preserve, and study their earlier stages 

 as the full grown insect. It therefore needs no apology 

 from me in giving here more space to instructions con- 

 cerning the pursuit of the immature than of the mature 

 form. 



The best method of raising butterflies is to obtain 

 eggs from the parent and rear them to maturity. This 

 is by no means difficult and is full of interest ; it is 

 only necessary to know the food plant of the cater- 

 pillar and that of nearly all our northern species 

 is ascertained ;* or if it is not known, it may often 

 be inferred from that of neighboring species, or dis- 

 covered by patiently following the female as she flits 

 from leaf to leaf, and noticing the plants she chooses 

 whereon to lay her eggs. The butterfly generally 

 selects the middle of the day for this duty, but the 

 eager youth must not expect at once to obtain her 

 secret, for he will find himself only too often foiled. 

 Once known, the way is comparatively easy ; catch a 

 female, selecting for the purpose one which has evi- 

 dently been flying for at least a few days, and which is 



* A list of the foot plants of such species as are mentioned in 

 this book is given in Appendix II. 



