22 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: 



When collecting insects (and particularly those of 

 economic interest) the larvae, chrysalids (also eggs, if 

 possible), with portions of the plant on which the insect 

 feeds, should be taken, and any interesting matter, as 

 changes of state, habits, data, &c., should be carefully 

 noted for future reference, and for this purpose a 

 " Register " book should be kept. This trouble would 

 soon repay itself, and could not fail to be a source of 

 useful interest and pleasure, more especially to the young 

 people of both sexes. The principal advantages expected 

 to be derived from a study of Entomology by those 

 engaged in rural pursuits, is to help them to a better 

 acquaintance with insects in general, and economic insects 

 in particular; to assist them in discriminating between 

 the destructive and useful kinds, and to enable them to 

 better understand the value of and perhaps appreciate 

 the many books written on the subject; also, by finding 

 out the habits of those creatures, they may be able to 

 devise means for their prevention or eradication. If this 

 much can be accomplished, who shall say that the 

 advantages gained are not worth more than the trouble 

 taken? This branch of the Victorian Department of 

 Agriculture has been created for the purpose of assisting 

 those persons above indicated, and is at the service ol 

 those who desire to avail themselves of its privileges. 



Insects are to be found nearly everywhere under the 

 bark of trees, on trees, under logs, stones, dung, on 

 flowers, leaves, on fences, in fruit, on roots, in the soil ; in 

 fact, there are few places in the world where insects of 

 some kind or other are not to be found. 



Butterflies and moths, if reared from the caterpillars, 

 are, as a rule, more perfect than those taken whilst on the 

 wing, and the rearing of such will afford much useful and 

 pleasurable instruction to those who can devote a little of 

 their spare time for the purpose. 



Beetles and many other kinds of insects may at once be 

 placed in spirits, but should never be placed together 

 while alive in boxes, as they often damage each other so 

 much as to be next to useless for specimens. 



