for that purpose. And they should be kept under circumstances so the air about 

 them is very slowly but continuously changed. Of course, their surroundings must 

 at all times be cleanly." I have tried cold storage rooms for hibernating larvae, 

 put them in a cellar, and buried them in the earth. Some live, some die. If 

 you have had good luck with hibernating larvae tell me your process. 



DEVASTATIONS OF CATERPILLARS. 



When your larvae die despite your utmost care, solace yourself with the 

 fact that it is providential that they not only have myriads of enemies, but are 

 subject to many diseases, and at best have a frail tenure upon life. If there were 

 no ichneumon flies, no ants, toads, spiders, or other enemies, diseases or other 

 causes of mortality, the larvae of lepidoptera would utterly destroy every vestige 

 of verdure on the earth's surface within three years. As it is, they consume 

 annually one-tenth of the vegetable world. So say scientists. 



FOODPLANTS IN WATER. 



W. H. Edwards, the great authority on rearing butterfly larvae, wrote: "I 

 have never used what are known as breeding cages, which are expensive if pur- 

 chased, and are troublesome to make at home. For large larvae, as of the Papilio, 

 I generally use powder-kegs (wood) or nail-kegs, one or the other of which 

 can be had anywhere. Remove the top hoop and use the second one to bind 

 down the cotton cloth cover; put a little earth in the bottom, and on it set a two- 

 quart fruit jar filled with water, in which branches of the foodplant are placed. No 

 further care is required than to substitute fresh branches for the old ones as the 

 leaves are consumed, and the larvae will go on to pupation. This is when it is 

 desired to get chrysalides by wholesale. Where observation of the larvae is neces- 

 sary, glass tubes and tumblers, and gauze-covered flower pots, and tin pails and 

 nail-kegs, will answer all the purposes of elaborate and expensive cages, and be 

 more satisfactory, I apprehend. At any rate, all my work is done in this way." 



HAVE FOODPLANTS ACCESSIBLE. 



Transplant, if possible, to your dooryard, or keep in pots or cans, such 

 plants as you will surely require. Each locality will require a separate list, but 

 at Truckee I have ready access to willow, violets, pansies, clover, alfalfa, grasses, 

 asters,, wild cherry, currant and gooseberry, apple, pear, plum, cottonwood, pine, 

 fir, larch, lilac, ceanothus, dog-wood, Bigelovia, two varieties wild sage, wild 

 coffee, wild rose, hops, nettle, azalea, sun-flower, milkweed, lupine, columbine, 

 penstemon, wild pea, celery, carrot, parsnip, lettuce, turnip, mustard and thistle. 

 When I receive eggs from a distance I write the florist for such plants as are nec- 

 essary. Frequently seeds are sent me by correspondents. For instance. Prof. R. 

 R. Rowley, of Louisiana, Mo., sent me various kinds of seed, such as honey lo- 

 cust, Croton capitatum, etc. If you send me seeds in advance of the eggs I can 

 rear the plants under glass. It is well for each pupil to acquaint himself with a 

 list of the natural foodplants of his locality and secure others. Cans, with a 

 few holes punched in the bottom, are better than flower pots for growing plants. I 

 cannot tell you why, but it is true. 



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