142 
THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
as keen as that of a razor. The leather 
should be hard, firm, and of even texture. 
Some persons recommend soft buff-leather; 
but this, we think, is a mistake, and we 
know that it does not sharpen nearly so 
well as a piece of hard leather that will not 
yield to the tool; for it is easily seen that if 
the leather is soft and yields, it will curl up 
behind as the tool passes on, and will round 
off the edge instead of leaving it a true 
bevel. 
To he continued. 
How to Study Entomology. 
BY F. 0. SMITH. 
V. 
GontiniLed from page 129. 
TF a chrysalis be examined closely, all the 
principal parts of the future moth or 
butterfly may easily be discerned. The 
wings will be seen folded around and under 
the thorax; the head, eyes, and antennae are 
-very prominent, and the legs may be dis- 
tinguished neatly folded under and between 
the wings, the whole a beautiful illustration 
of Nature's universal economy of space. 
The length of time the insect remains in 
the pupa state varies with the species from 
three or four weeks to seven years. Many 
varieties, however, may be forced by a high 
temperature. The wing of a moth or but- 
terfly just emerged from the chrysalis is 
really full size, though in appearance it is 
very diminutive. The fact of its being 
folded in so small a compass has led to 
many a dispute among entomologists. A 
little patience and careful attention during 
the hatching season will, however, con- 
vince the most incredulous. Usually, in 
three or four hours after emerging, the 
insect is in a perfect state to kill. 
The order Lepidoptera is classed at present 
into two divisions — the butterfly with 
clubbed antennae and four distinctly visible 
wings when at rest, and the moth with 
feathered and pointed antennae and a much 
larger body in proportion to the wings. 
The secondary wings of the moth are 
usually covered by the primaries when in a 
state of rest. The silk of commerce is ob- 
tained from the cocoon of the Bombyx mori^ 
the moth of which is small and insignificant 
in appearance. The Attacus cecropia spins 
a cocoon of strong silk, but it has never 
yet been unwound to the writer's know- 
ledge. No doubt it will some time be used 
in the arts, as from it could be made the 
strongest of paper. 
To those who make Lepidoptera a special 
study, the " Synopsis of the Described 
Lepidoptera of North America," by John 
G. Morris, will prove invaluable. 
The Coleoptera have four wings, two only 
being used in flying. The anterior wings 
are simply sheaths or shells, under which 
are folded the secondaries for protection 
when the insect is at rest. The mouth is 
provided with mandibles, jaws and lips, and 
the food is masticated. This insect un- 
dergoes the larva, pupa and perfect state, 
and the larvae being found in almost every 
soil, is easy of access to the student. A 
great number live in the excrement of ani- 
mals, others attack the roots of trees, vege- 
tables, etc., also bark, wood, leaves and 
fruits. 
With even a fair microscope the Coleop- 
tera offers a wide field of investigation, as 
the insects of this order are easy of dissec- 
tion, and the parts readily accessible. 
lo he continued. 
Home-made Hanging Baskets— -I. 
(Mustrated hy A. W. Boherts.) 
rilHE cool nights of October warned me 
that the frost-king would soon be 
here, chilling and killing my floral pets, 
who had bloomed out their beautiful na- 
tures all summer. To leave them now to 
perish seemed like heartlessness. 
Having neither pots nor window boxes, 
I made a grand collection of all such 
ancient and infirm butter tubs, wash boilers, 
tin pans and fruit cans, as are to be found 
about an old homestead. In these I sea- 
soned my plants down till I could procure 
more fitting receptacles for them. I found 
the prices of window boxes and hanging 
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