FOREST LIFE. 



207 



difficult than the breeding of those leaf-eating species 

 that do not make nests ; the changing of the latter 

 from a wilted branch to a fresh one is accomplished 

 without difficulty, but a similar process in the case of 

 a leaf-roller implies the 

 building of a new nest 

 by the insect. For this 

 reason it is best to leave 

 the nests on the trees 

 till the larvEe are nearly 

 full-grown, and then to 

 cut the branch bearing 

 the nest and place it in 

 water or damp sand in 

 a breeding cage. This 

 implies the keeping of a 

 close watch of the in- 

 sects while on the trees, 

 lest they mature and es- 

 cape. It is well, when 

 comparatively few spec- 

 imens are found, to in- 

 close the nest while it 

 is left on the tree in a 

 bag of Swiss muslin. Some leaf-miners pass the pupa 

 state within their nest ; but as others leave the nests 

 and enter the ground to transform, it is best to have 

 a layer of earth in the breeding cage. 



The greater number of the leaf-rolling caterpillars 

 belong to the superfamil}' TORTRiciNA (Tor-tri-ci'na), 

 or Tortricids {Tor' tri-cids) \ but there are members of 

 several other famui^ -^f moths that have similar 

 habits. 



Fig. 176. 



