Studying Butterflies 



Amanda Zesch 

 Senior Student in Harris Teachers College, St. Louis 



The study of the metamorphosis of butterflies should begin with 

 the egg. The student can collect eggs on walks through the woods, 

 and sometimes even from plants in backyard gardens. The collec- 

 tor can easily distinguish the eggs of butterflies from those of other 

 insects by remembering that butterflies' eggs are laid singly on the 

 underside of the leaf and are often iridescent. Sometimes the 

 collector, will be so fortunate as to see the butterfly deposit her 

 egg, and in this case there will be no chance for a mistake to occur. 

 In gathering the eggs the student should take with him the whole 

 branch upon which the eggs have been laid, and later place them in 

 a receptacle. It is best to place the eggs in a dish or cage suitable 

 for rearing the caterpillars. Cages consisting of little wooden 

 frames covered with wire netting and set over boxes of damp earth 

 or sand, large lamp chimneys set on flower pots of damp earth or 

 sand and covered with a piece of glass, or dishes two or three inches 

 high covered with a piece of glass, may be used. If a cage or flower 

 pot is used, the end of the branch should be stuck into the sand, the 

 branch being turned so as to give the best position for observation ; 

 if a dish is used, £he branch should be merely laid in the bottom. 

 If the observer does not know the age of the eggs, it is advisable to 

 keep fresh plant food in the receptacle so that, when the eggs hatch, 

 the young will have fresh food at hand. For this purpose, the 

 same species of plant as that upon which the eggs have been found 

 should be used. 



When the caterpillars hatch, it is absolutely necessary to observe 

 these laws: first, the homes must be kept clean; second, a con- 

 stant supply of fresh food must be on hand ; and third, the cater- 

 pillar must not come in contact with the direct sunlight. If the 

 student follows these laws, he will have no trouble in rearing the 

 caterpillars. To clean their homes, the student should turn over 

 the dishes on paper to remove the contents, should rinse and dry 

 them thoroughly, and should then put in a new supply of fresh 

 food. This should be done at least once a day. To return the 

 caterpillar to his clean home, it is best to put the branch upon which 

 he is resting back into the dish; all unnecessary leaves should 

 be removed from the branch, and the twig should be placed in such 



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