52 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



A 



Fig. 28. 



If this be too much trouble to make, get a piece 

 of the flower stem of some grass, which forms an 

 excellent substitute, but the caterpillar will require 

 tying on with a bit of fine silk. If you have 

 succeeded in making the blow-pipe, lift up the 

 spring (a) a little, and insert the point of the blow- 

 pipe in the anal aperture of the caterpillar, and 

 let down the spring again so as to catch what is 

 called the anal flap — a bit of hard triangular skin 

 over the aperture ; this holds it on during the 

 process of blowing. Now you want a spirit lamp, 

 ■or a small gas flame with a piece of wire gauze 

 over it to keep the flame from scorching the larvae- 

 A very simple apparatus may be made by bending 

 a piece of strong wire and inserting it into a 

 wooden stand, as in fig. 29. The wire gauze can 



Fig. 29. 



be stretched over the circle at the top, and the 

 lamp placed on the wooden stand at the bottom. 

 If you are in a hurry to try, and have not time to 

 make this, heat a piece of iron in the fire, taking 

 care not to have it too hot ; this will answer the 

 same purpose. Now all is ready; light the lamp, 

 and hold the caterpillar over the wire gauze, gently 

 blowing and turning it round. With a little 

 practice you will be able to keep the caterpillar's 

 skin extended and breathe through the nose. Do 

 not blow too violently or you will either burst the 

 skin or force it out into unnatural shapes. Cease 

 blowing now and again to see if the skin has be- 

 come hard. Generally, that part about the head 

 will be the last to dry; just before it becomes 



thoroughly dry, push back the head a little into its 

 natural position, and hold it over the lamp 10 

 finish — withouc blowing. The skin is now 

 thoroughly dry and, if you have not blown too 

 violently, it will be in about a natural position. 

 Gently lift up the spring, and, with the point of a 

 penknife or your finger nail, slip the caterpillar 

 from the end of the blow-pipe. Now put a little 

 moisture upon the anal flap, and, when it is 

 softened, press it gently into its natural position, 

 and the process is complete. Green cater- 

 pillars have to be colored by blowing emerald i 

 green {poison) into the inside before the anal flap 

 is put down. Two or three of each kind should I 

 be done, especially of those that vary in color or i 

 markings, and they should then be mounted j 

 (gummed) upon artificial leaves, as near like those ■ 

 of their proper food-plants as possible. We do 1 

 not know if dealers in Natural History generally jl 

 keep these leaves for sale, but we know thatl 

 they can be had from those dealers who advertise in 1 

 our magazine, and no doubt from others. The wire! 

 stems of these leaves should be twisted firmly round I 

 a pin, so that the whole can be removed by taking I 

 hold of the pin. This should now be placed in I 

 the cabinet drawer, and with it some of the perfect!, 

 insects, the chrysalis, cocoon, or any other pecuJ 

 liarity belonging to that kind, and you have then, 1 

 at one glance, its complete transformations. All ( 

 present, one of the most successful larva preservers i 

 is Lord Walsingham, and his collection is truly 

 magnificent and a treat to see. Another persor 

 who has persevered successfully in this line i: | 

 Miss Golding-Bird, and we hope that this lady':! t 

 success will be an encouragement to others of he 

 sex to follow the same course. 



NOTES FOR THE 

 INSECT BREEDER. 

 DECEMBER. 



The best occupation for the insect breedei 

 especially the new beginner, at this time of til t 

 year, is preparing apparatus for the coming seasoi 

 Pupa digging and moss hunting, as recommende 

 last month, may be continued during favourabS 

 weather ; and some of the small species may t : 

 found in withered leaves, but these may safely t 

 left another month, when an entomologist of grej h 



