COLLECTING AND HATCHING CHETSALIDS. 139 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



COLLECTING AND HATCHING CHRYSALIDS— COLLECTING, 



PRESERVING, MOUNTING, AND ARRANGING 



MOTHS, BUTTERFLIES, AND INSECTS. 



A volume could be written on the collecting, breeding, 

 and preservation of insects, but I shall attempt to treat 

 in detail only a few of the largest and most beautiful of 

 the Lepidoptera (the butterflies and moths), or such spe- 

 cies as can be used for ornamental purposes. 



The most perfect specimens are obtained from chrysa- 

 lids, which should be collected in autumn, winter, and 

 early spring. A moth which has had its freedom one 

 night, or a butterfly which has been on the wing for a 

 day, cannot be called a perfect specimen. 



The delicate scales which form the covering of the 

 wings are carried away when brought in contact with 

 other objects, though the wings may not be broken. A 

 specimen hatched from a chrysalis in confinement, may 

 be taken in a perfect state, and prepared within a few 

 hours after it comes forth, or when the wings are fully 

 stretched and dry. 



The moths of the genus Attacus and related genera, 

 are the largest and most beautiful of American species. 

 The common Cecropia moth {Attacus Cecropia, Lin., 

 Platysamia of modern authors), exceeds all others in size. 

 This species begin to leave the chrysalids in the latter part 

 of May, though the majority hatch in June. Those which 

 hatch early in the day remain hanging on the chrysa-^ 

 lids, or near them, with drooping wings, until dusk, when 

 they fly heavily about until twilight. They are strictly 

 nocturnal, only taking wing in daylight when disturbed. 



The males scent the females for long distances, and the 

 latter are very soon impregnated after hatching. Their 



