8 



doors covered with ^-inch wire net to exclude cats, etc., and to allow 

 the sunshine to enter. An ordinary penthouse roof covers a flat 

 roof, the triangular space at each end being left open. A shelf com- 

 posed of bars with equal spaces between divides the interior. The 

 ends of the house are north and south, the doors face east, and a 

 thick hedge behind shelters it from the glare of the afternoon sun. 

 For about a couple of hours every morning the sun shines right 

 across the face of the house, and every north and east wind blows 

 through it, effectually preventing hibernating larv^ from feeling 

 hungry and ova from hatching prematurely. Underneath are two 

 bins, one containing sifted loam, which is occasionally watered, and 

 the other silver sand. In one or other I keep a bag full of scalded 

 moss, an enamelled iron basin, cotton wool, and spare wells. 



The larva cages I use are all on the same principle, and are, in 

 fact, copies (as near as I can go) of the admirable cages made by the 

 late Mr. J. N. Young, of Rotherham, who was for many years prior 

 to his death a member of our Society. His cage consists of a shallow 

 red earthenware pan (diameter 7 inches, depth 3^ inches), with the 

 drainage hole enlarged and fitted with a zinc tube (li inches diameter), 

 which comes up flush with the rim of the pan. Into the tube drops 

 a zinc bottle or well with a flange at the shoulder which completely 

 closes the tube. On the rim of the pan and extending (2 inches) 

 above it is a band of fine perforated zinc closely fitted to the lower 

 rim of a glass cylinder (diameter 6 inches, depth 6 inches), which 

 rests on three brackets soldered inside the perforated zinc band 

 (^ inch from top edge). A perforated zinc lid closes the cage. 

 My cage consists of a square seed pan (14 inches by 10 inches), to 

 which is fixed a stout rim of angle zinc. The tube is soldered to a 

 square of perforated zinc which covers the drainage holes. On to 

 the rim is fitted another rim of angle zinc which bears a perforated 

 zinc rim framed in wood. Between the two frames of angle zinc is 

 shut a diaphragm with a round hole in the centre to take the upper 

 rim of the tube. The hole is bordered with a flange, which is 

 covered by the flange at the shoulder of the zinc well that drops into 

 the tube. The top of the cage consists of a six-sided frame of Oregon 

 pine fitted on four sides with (20-ounce) glass, and the top with 

 perforated zinc, while the remaining side fits exactly on to the 

 frame containing the zinc rim, and kept in its place with strips of 

 oak. Any part of these cages being broken can be replaced without 

 much trouble and expense in a few minutes. They are so strong 

 they can be piled three high without danger. I have used with con- 

 siderable success cages on the same plan with leno taking the place 

 of glass and zinc. The leno is glued into the rebates and protected 

 with squares of ^-inch wire net kept in place with wooden fillets. 

 Hairy larvae did better in these than any cage I have used ; the leno 

 soon becomes soiled, however, quickly rots into holes, and is difficult 

 to renew. 



The diaphragm is used until larvae are full-fed ; if they happen to 



