272 GRAMMAR OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



and Tenthredoes : unless he know these to 

 be so very common that they are not worth the 

 trouble of rearing, he should invariably bring 

 them home in the tin boxes. 



874. To rear larvae it is necessary to be pro- 

 vided with numerous little square cages, lined 

 about half way down with gauze ; the lower 

 portion should be made of stout wood, and should 

 have an internal coat of tin or lead ; this part 

 should be filled with common earth : sprigs of the 

 plant on which the larva was feeding should be 

 placed in a vial in this breeding cage, and the 

 larva placed on it. The boxes must be kept in a 

 cool and moist place. 



875. Larvas will do as well thus artificially 

 reared as in a state of nature ; they will spin 

 among the leaves, or on the sides of the cage, or 

 they will bury themselves in the earth ; in either 

 case the moths emerge at the proper time, and 

 will be more perfect and finer specimens than can 

 be obtained in any other way. 



876. In the boxes in which larvae are kept, 

 Ichneumons will be constantly making their ap- 

 pearance ; these ought to be preserved with great 

 care, and a memorandum kept of the species of 

 moth, if known, from which they emerged. 



877. As to the particular seasons for insects, 

 little can be said : butterflies are particularly 

 abundant in May, August, and September; moths 

 in May, June, and October; larvae in May, June, 



