242 . LEPIDOPTERA. 



have been called Macrolepidoptera, while the smaller ones, 

 including the smaller Pyralidce, the Tortricidce, and the 

 Tin ei dee, are called Microlepidoptera. 



In studying these insects the best generic characters will be 

 found in the antennae, the shape of the head-parts, the vena- 

 tion and proportions of the wings : very slight changes in these 

 parts separating genera and species. Size and coloration, 

 which are usually very constant, afford good specific characters. 



A good method of preserving larvae dry, adopted at Dresden, 

 is to squeeze out the intestines through a hole made near the 

 anal extremity of the larva, then to insert a fine straw, after 

 which it may be placed in a glass vase, itself placed in a tin 

 vessel and held over a lamp ; the larval skin is blown while 

 suspended over the lamp, by which the skin dries faster. It 

 mjay be done with a small tube or blow-pipe fixed at the end 

 of a bladder, held under the arm or between the knees, so as 

 to leave the hands at liberty ; and the straw which is inserted 

 into the body of the larva may be fastened by a cross-pin stuck 

 through the skin, and thus retained in its proper position 

 throughout the process of blowing. The small larvae, such as 

 those of the Tineae, may be put alive into a hot bottle, baked 

 until they swell to the proper extent and dry, when they can be 

 pinned with all their contents inside. (Westwood, Proceed- 

 ings of the Entomological Society of London, Sept. 7th, 1863.) 



Dr. Knaggs has, in the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, 

 given some directions for managing caterpillars. Very young 

 caterpillars, which will not eat the food provided, and become 

 restless, should be reared in air-tight jam-pots, the tops of which 

 are covered with green glass to darken the interior of the ves- 

 sel. When small larvae hide themselves by mining, entering 

 buds and spinning together leaves, they should have as small a 

 quantity of food as possible. In changing larvae from one plant 

 to a fresh one, a slight jar or puff of breath will dislodge them, 

 and they can be transferred to the jam-pot, or the glass cylin- 

 der, covered at one end with muslin, can be turned muslin end 

 downwards for them to crawl upon. The duplicate breeding 

 cage, pot or tube, should be "sweetened" by free currents of 

 fresh dry air and then stocked with fresh food. 



Dr. Knaggs advises that "hiding places," or bits of chips, 



