THE BUTTERFLY VIVARIUM. 11 



off several scores of them as a valuable prize. I 



had taken the precaution of securing a few nice 



sprigs of nettle along with them ; and placing a 



small saucer of water, to keep the nettles fresh, in 



the centre of a deep pie-dish, I put the caterpillars 



carefully upon the leaves, considering that if they 



fell off, or left them to seek fresher food, they would 



not be able to escape by climbing up the polished 



sides of the dish, while they could very easily regain 



some of the deserted leaves that touched the bottom 



of their prison, and so return to their food. I next 



considered, that as the caterpillars were still very 



small, not having been hatched many days, that the 



best way to enable them to acquire strength would 



be to give them as much air as possible. "With this 



view I placed them outside my bed-room window, 



on the stone sill. They appeared to go to their food at 



once with great appetite ; and, as they looked very 



healthy, I thought my contrivance — which secured 



them full liberty in the open air, and yet prevented 



their escape — was a most ingenious one. But, as it 



turned out, I had been too easily pleased with my 



devices and precautions ; for, returning to my 



window in the after part of the same day, I found 



the bright summer sun full on that side of the 



house, and perceived that the heat, radiating from the 



