70 



WOEK AT HOME AND IN THE FIELD 



The 'laurel box ' has had many devoted advocates, although it 

 does not seem to be much in use now. It is a very good arrange- 

 ment, however, but is a little more troublesome than the cyanide 

 bottle, as it requires frequent replenishing. 



A very good laurel box may be prepared as follows. Get a 

 small tin box of cylindrical form, measuring about five inches by 

 two, and cut a circle of perforated zinc or wood just the size to 

 fit it snugly as a false bottom without any danger of falling out of 

 its place. Now gather some of the young leaves of the green laurel 

 bush, and beat them almost to a pulp with a mallet or hammer. 

 Place this in your tin box, and press down the perforated false 

 bottom on it. The bruised laurel leaves give off 

 a very powerful odour, which stupefies butter- 

 flies immediately. 



Of course the reader may be able to think 

 of various other ways in which the laurel box 

 may be made. Any arrangement will do pro- 

 viding the vapour can come to the insects with- 

 out allowing the leaves to touch their wings ; 

 and any ingenious youth could manufacture a 

 more satisfactory article than the one I have 

 mentioned. My desire is, as far as possible, to 

 give instructions that may easily be carried out 

 by anyone, even if he has not the slightest 

 mechanical skill, leaving the clever youth, some- 

 times, the opportunity of displaying his own in- 

 ventive power. But in this case I will give a 

 few suggestions concerning other ways in which 

 a laurel killer may be constructed. A firm and fixed i'alse bottom 

 is a decided advantage. This is easily managed by fixing a circular 

 piece of perforated zinc or tin ' by means of a little solder ; or even 

 a wood partition may be used, fixed with a few brads, driven into 

 it from the outside. With the fixed partition, however, you must 

 have a lid at each end of the box. This is easily managed if you 

 get two tins of the same size, knock out the bottom of one, and fit 

 the lid of the other in its place. 



I have heard of laurel boxes without any partition save a piece 

 of rag in which the bruised leaves are wrapped. The whole is 

 pressed into the box so firmly that it is not likely to be displaced 

 while you are on the chase. I do not recommend this, for in addi- 

 tion to the chance of its slipping there is a danger of the sap of the 



FIG. 44. SECTION 

 OF THE LAUBEL 

 Box. 



a, space for insects; 

 6, perforated par- 

 tition ; c, bruised 

 laurel leaves. 



