162 



The Xatuealist. 



purpose. Along vrith a medley of rubbish and insect life, the result 

 will reveal most likely plenty of ichneumons. On arriving on the 

 gingham," they aptpear to be momentarily paralysed and bewildered, 

 but long before " time " is called, and unless one is very quick and 

 active, the little insect recovers from its temporary embarrassment, 

 and flies away, perchance laughing at your gaping mouth and 

 astonished features. Anticipate escape by prompt action, out with 

 the pill-box. and in with your Pimpla, or whatever it proves to 

 be. 



But the difficulty of obtaining specimens is by no means insuper- 

 able : the difficulty is in getting them well named when caught. Let 

 the collector once obtain a start in the nomenclature of insects by 

 getting well acquainted with the more common ones, and the rest will 

 soon follow. 



Breeding is an essential and interesting part of the programme, 

 and well worth a lot of trouble. It facilitates observation and the 

 taking of notes, fixing upon memory facts worth working for, and 

 which no amount of out-door labour could as effectually realise. I 

 always prefer to keep my chrysalis cage moderately damp, and for 

 this purpose adopt the practice of growing some moss in it. The 

 cage is divided into two compartments by a glass square, one half 

 covered with moss on the bottom, and the other portion strewn with 

 twigs, rotten wood, and dry earth, giving free access for the insect or 

 larva to choose its own whereabouts. The glass division may be 

 shaped according to the ingenuity and desire of the workman. At the 

 top is a spiral-spring shaped glass tube, perforated with holes to allow 

 the water poured into it to drop into the cage. By means of an 

 ordinary funnel made to fit into the top end of the tube, water can be 

 passed into it at any time when required. The base of the wetted 

 half of cage should also be well perforated so as to prevent stagnation, 

 the partition let into the wood deep enough to prevent the water from 

 the wetted half travelling through, and directly underneath the former 

 a tank or basin is placed to receive the water. If this basin is adopted 

 a tube may be fixed through the bottom, and by this contrivance a 

 small branch of a tree or a plant can be used for a considerable 

 period, and constantly renewed, adaptable for feeding larvse if 

 required, receiving a supply of water from the basin and through the 

 tube, which must be corked up when in disuse. Something of this 

 character will be found very useful, especially when aU our feeding- 

 cages are taxed to the uttermost, and when saving time is an object 

 with the breeder. As the period comes round for the larva to select 



