^2 THE TAXIDERMIST'S GUIDE. 



the animal. The shell or case of the Pupa also becomes hard, if 

 the earth is nat kept moist ; and, in that event, the animal will 

 not have sufficient strength to break its case at the time it ought 

 to emerge from its confinement, and must consequently die, which 

 but too frequently happens from mismanagement. 



Some seasons are more favorable than others for the produc- 

 tion of Caterpillars, and to keep each kind by themselves would 

 require an immense number of cages, as well as occupy much 

 time in changing the food, and paying due attention to them. 

 To obviate this, some persons have large breeding cages, with a 

 variety of food in them, which must be cleaned out every two 

 days, and fresh leaves given to the Caterpillars ; as, on due atten- 

 tion to feeding, the beauty and vigor of the coming insects will 

 much depend. 



The Larvae of insects, which feed beneath the surface of the 

 earth, may be bred in the following manner : Let any box that is 

 about three or four feet square, and two or three feet deep, be 

 lined internally with tin, and a number of very minute holes be 

 bored through the sides and bottom. Put into this box a quanity 

 of earth, replete with such vegetables as the Caterpillars subsist on, 

 and sink it into a bed of earth, so that the surface may be exposed 

 to the different changes of the weather. The lid should be covered 

 with brass or iron net-work, to prevent their escape, and for the 

 free admission of air. 



The young Entomologist should obtain a cabinet of about 

 thirty drawers, arranged in two tiers, and covered in with folding 

 doors. There is a great convenience in this size, as the cabinet 

 is rendered more portable, and at the same time admits of having 

 another of the same size, being placed above the top of it, as the 

 collection increases, without injuring the uniformity, and thus 

 the drawers may be augmented to any extent. It is immaterial 

 whether the cabinet is made of mahogany or oak; sometimes 

 they are constructed of cedar, but seldom of pine, or any other 

 soft wood. Small cells must be made in the inside of the fronts 

 for camphor. 



Corking of Drawers. — The simplest way to get the cork is 

 to purchase it of a cork-cutter, ready prepared, but it will be 

 much cheaper for the Entomologist to prepare it himself. In this 

 case, it should be cut into strips of about three inches wide, 



