28 THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



they should be labelled with the date of capture, the locality, 

 the name of the captor, and any other detail of interest in 

 connection with it. All these particulars may be written on 

 small squares of paper and put on the pins under the specimens. 



Cabinets or boxes containing insects should always stand 

 where they are free from damp, otherwise mould may make its 

 appearance on the specimens. Mouldy insects may be cleaned, 

 but they never look nice afterwards ; so it will be well to bear 

 in mind that prevention is better than cure. Where drawers 

 and boxes are not properly attended to in the matter of 

 naphthaline, mites are apt to enter and cause injury to the 

 specimens. If these pests should effect a lodgment, a little 

 benzine poured on the bottom of box or drawer will quickly 

 kill them. The benzine, if pure, will not make the least stain, 

 and of course the drawer or* box must be closed directly the 

 benzine is put in. Do this only in the daytime. 



Rearing butterflies from the egg is much practised, and is a 

 very excellent way. One not only obtains specimens in fine 

 condition, but gains knowledge of the early stages at the same 

 time. The eggs of most of the Whites, the Orange-tip, the 

 Brimstone, and some others are not difficult to obtain, but 

 searching the food-plants for the eggs of many of the butterflies 

 is tiresome work, and not altogether remunerative. Females may 

 be watched when engaged in egg-laying, and having marked 

 the spot, step in when she has left and rob the " nest." The 

 best plan is to capture a few females and enclose them in 

 roomy, wide-mouthed bottles, or a gauze cage, putting in with 

 them a sprig or two of the food-plant placed in a holder 

 containing water. The mouth of the bottle should be covered 

 with gauze or leno, and a bit of moistened sugar put on the 

 top outside. Either bottle or cage must be stood in the sun- 

 shine, but it must be remembered that the butterflies require 

 plenty of air as well as sunshine, and that they can have too 

 much of the latter. 



