64 BULLETIN OF THE BROOKLYN ENT. SOC. II. 1879. 



take for granted has mated. Mr. Wm. H. Edwards of Coalburgh, 

 W. Va., whose experience in this line has been large and success- 

 ful, advises a simple method of securing eggs. It is to cover a 

 branch or set of the food-plant with a fine netting bag, putting the 

 female free within, and giving in the Inclosure, enough room for 

 her to move about freely. It is important to give plenty of light? 

 but not have if possible, the insect exposed to the rays of the sun. 

 The Sphingidae and Bombycidae, as a rule, are easily mated. A 

 virgin female is taken ; a thread is tied securely about the wings: 

 the loose end of the thread is then tied to a branch of a tree or 

 shrub, care being taken that it is tied so that if the insect fall it 

 will be able to reach leaves or stalk with its feet. A good male is 

 thus very often secured as a compensation for the female ruined, 

 for even though the wings are secured by a thread run behind the 

 costa and tied, the insect will lose its beauty before done laying 

 its eggs. 



The greater portion of these families will lay their eggs under 

 any conditions, but they ought to be placed so they can lay them 

 on the food-plant of the larva. 



The Noctuidae can be made to give us eggs by following the 

 rule laid down for the Diurnals. Specimens taken at sugar can 

 without stupifying be set apart for this purpose. 



The eggs should be kept in a not too dry or overheated atmos- 

 phere, and should be so placed, that at its birth, without effort, 

 the larva finds at once fresh food. 



2. Having the larvae from the egg, or having obtained them 

 otherwise, our aim must be to give nature without nature's lack. 



Of course we cannot allow the larvae liberty :- Breeding cages 

 and means of restraint are the first necessity. 



Under restraint we should see to it that our wards have light, 

 air, cleanliness, fresh food, and the minor conditions which the 

 tendency of the individual insect demands. 



Air and light are absolutely necessary though not by any 

 means to the fullest degree. Some larvae need little or no light, 

 as naturally they feed by night and are concealed by day ; and 

 many seem to do very well with very imperfect ventilation. It 

 is pretty certain that, accustomed from birth to a lack in these 

 respects, any larvae will thrive well with little light, and with 

 very slowly changed air, if the change be continuous. But if 



