REARING EXOTIC INSECTS. 287 



season entirely to the rearing of the larva of Moths 

 and Butterflies. To be entirely successful in this 

 department, it only requires a common degree of 

 care in keeping the sun from the case when too 

 powerful; in ensuring sufficient ventilation; pro- 

 viding fresh food continually, for which purpose it 

 is better to gather the sprays with matured leaves, 

 instead of young shoots ; and, above all, to keep the 

 case as clean as possible. 



Some have raised objections to the introduction 

 of water at all into a Butterfly Vivarium, as cal- 

 culated to render the case too damp for any terres- 

 trial larvae; but, with a certain amount of open- 

 work for ventilation, this would be impossible, as 

 the evaporations would escape, and not be con- 

 densed and deposited again, as in close Eern-cases. 

 The fact is, that the rearing of Caterpillars is more 

 generally unsuccessful from too much dryness than 

 from over moisture. Por instance, the larvie of the 

 Death's-head Moth, when artificially reared, often 

 die during their pupation from over- dry n ess ; 

 while, if the receptacle in which they are confined 

 be buried in the ground, to ensure a constant 

 degree of moisture, but of course not toet, their 

 rearing is almost uniformly successful. I antici- 

 pate, therefore, that the addition of the tank, when 



