102 TAXIDERMY. 



the caterpillars may climb from the bottom of them 

 to their food. We change these branches every 

 two or three days. 



The caterpillars of the sphinx are found on 

 plants, like those of other butterflies. They are dis- 

 tinguished by a sort of horn which they bear on 

 the last ring of the upper part of their body ; we 

 nourish them in the usual way, but add a little 

 earth to the bottom of the box ; for the caterpillars 

 of this genus make use of it to change into thry- 

 salids. The rearing of caterpillars demands much 

 care and attention ; if we forget to give them, re- 

 gularly, the proper quantity and kind of food, they 

 die before they produce the butterflies, which recom- 

 pense us for our trouble. The gauze which is 

 above the box, admits sufficient air for their exist- 

 ence, and allows the observer to study and admire 

 these insects, either as they feed, or as they spin 

 the silk which is to serve them as a tomb, at the 

 same time that it becomes the cradle of a new phoe- 

 nix. Here ends the rearing of caterpillars. When 

 they have attained their greatest size, they change 

 into chrysalids (pupae.) Some plunge into the earth, 

 where some of the species pass the winter ; we cannot 

 preserve their chrysalids during this season, except 

 by keeping the box containing the earth in which 

 they are buried, exposed to the open air. Such is 

 the caterpillar of the brier, (bombyx rubi, Fab.) 

 Others spin a cod of silk round them. Some of 



