FORCING EMERGENCE FROM COCOONS. 



By Frank G. Wolfe, 840 Webster Ave., Scranton, Pa. 



December 4th, 1913, I received from a dealer the following cocoons: 

 Four Hyperchiria io, two Luna and one Samia californica. As I wanted these 

 for my collection and feared that something might destroy them before Spring, 

 I placed them on some moss in a starch box, one end open and the opening cov- 

 ered with a wire screen netting. This box I placed in my den and once in about 

 ten days sprinkled with lukewarm water the moss and cocoons. Emergence took 

 place as follows : 



Jan. 23, 1914, 7:00 A.M., Io Female. 



Jan. 28, 1914, 7:00 P.M., Io Female. 



Jan. 29, 1914, 7:00 P.M., Io Male. 



Feb. 9, 1914, 5:00 P.M., Io Male. 



Feb. 11, 1914, 5:00 P.M., Luna Female. 



Feb. 15, 1914, 5:00 P.M., Samia cal. Male. 



Feb. 18, 1914, 4:45 P.M., Luna Male. 

 The only one of the above that was not seen and noted before the wings 

 had expanded was the Io noted on January 23rd. I discovered this fully ex- 

 panded and hanging to the top of the box at 7 a. m. after returning from a trip 

 out of the city. This moth might have emerged the night before. Some of the 

 others were heard moving in the cocoon and the emergence was noted with great 

 interest. It is also interesting to note that from each cocoon I got a moth. How- 

 ever, I should not think of forcing the emergence of an insect at this time of the 

 year unless I needed it for my collection, for the hardest thing for me to do is 

 to place one in a cyanide bottle. 



It Turns Over an Important "New Leaf" Beginning With the 

 January Number. 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



Several New Features. 



"Birds in the Bush," a department edited by Edmund J. Saw- 

 yer, with illustrations from original drawings by this talented 

 artist-ornithologist. 



"The Fan of Seeing Things," a department for young folks, 

 edited by Edward F. Bigelow, succeeding his well-known woik 

 as editor of the "Nature and Science" department of "St. Nicholas" 

 for more than fourteen years. 



This new department will be really new. It will not be 

 "schooly," not "nature study," not to induce parents and educators 

 to say, "It is good for the children," but it will appeal directly 

 to the young folks themselves and will help them to enjoy the 

 natural objects that surround them. It will be true to its name. 



Subscription $1.00 a year. Single copy 10c. To new sub- 

 scribers, four months' trial for only 25c. 



Address (and make check or money order payable to) 



The Agassiz Association 



ArcAdiA: 

 Sound Beach. Connecticut. 



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