METHOD OF BREEDING INSECTS. 87 



THE PUPA. 



When the insects have escaped i'rom their Pupa skin, the 

 skin usually retains the shape and general appearance it did 

 while it contained the insect. It is therefore ready for a 

 cabinet, without any preparation whatever. But if the animal 

 lias not quitted its envelope, it will be necessary, either to drop 

 the Pupa into warm water, or to heat it in a tin case before 

 the fire ; the former mode however is the best, and least liable 

 to change the colours of the Pupa. 



METHOD OF BREEDING INSECTS. 



BREEDING CAGES. These must be made of wainscot, or 

 other hard wood, as deal is apt to kill the caterpillars, from its 

 strong smell of turpentine. The best form for these, is repre- 

 sented plate I V. fig. 10. The sides and front are covered with 

 gauze ; a. is a small square box, for the reception of a phial of 

 water, for placing the stalks of plants in, on which it is in- 

 tended the caterpillars are to feed. The most convenient size 

 for a breeding cage is, eight inches in breadth, four deep, and 

 one foot in height. It is not proper to place within a cage 

 more than one species of caterpillar, as many of them prey 

 upon each other. Indeed animals of the same species will 

 devour each other, if left without food. The Caterpillars of 

 insects, for the most part, will only eat one particular kind of 

 food, so that it is better to have no more than one sort in a 

 cage. 



There must be at the bottom of the cage earth to the depth 

 of two inches : this should be mixed with some fine sand and 

 vegetable earth, if possible, to prevent it from drying. The 

 cages should be kept in a cool cellar or damp place, because 

 many insects change into the Pupa condition under the earth ; 

 so that it would require to be somewhat moist, to prevent the 

 destruction of the animal. The shell or case of the Pupa also 

 becomes hard, if the earth is not kept moist ; and, in that 

 event, the animal will not have sufficient strength to break its 

 case,^,t the time it ought to emerge from its confinement and 

 H2 * 



