58 
certainly — but try again. They were Emperors this time and 
easier game, but the result was no better. In despair I came to 
the conclusion that attempting to pair moths was a most unprofit- 
able speculation, and for that season gave it up. How I don’t 
mean to say that such a method might not haAm succeeded ; there 
are some good-natured moths that seem determined to make the 
best of the most adA'^erse circumstances, just as there are some 
larvae which won't be starved by any amount of neglect. But 
there Avere several points about the plan Avhich I soon found might 
be easily altered, and attention to which makes success, though by 
no means certain, yet far more probable. In the first jDlace, it is 
not advisable to keep the pupae Avarm, they are thus brought out 
before their time, and probably find the weather not sufficiently 
favourable to pair ; or if fertile eggs be obtained, the larvae hatch 
before their food is ready for them. And Avhen the moths come 
out don’t (if you can help it) keep them near a fire ; the dry heat 
Avhich is thus produced seems to be peculiarly bad for them, and 
many species, which pair readily out of doors, refuse to do so in 
such a position. It is far better to keep the pupae out of doors 
exposed to the Aveather, and to let the moths remain there while 
pairing, or if that be impracticable, at least put them in a room 
Avithout a fire or against an open windoAv. And here I may men- 
tion, Avhat might easily be guessed, that the state of the Aveather is 
of paramount importance. If the nights be Avarm, whether rainy 
or not, there is good chance of success, but should they be cold 
and Avindy nothing Avill stir. Of course by keeping the pupse out 
of doors, we make it far more probable that they Avill not come out 
at all in such weather, but if they should, it is said to be better 
even to bring them in before a fire. This, however, is a desperate 
remedy, and I have never been successful with it, so that Avhen a 
continuance of bad weather sets in, I give the thing up as hopeless. 
Hext, as to the box. I need hardly say that the size mentioned 
above (9 in. square), is for such things as Versicolor and Carpini, 
far too small. As a rule it seems good to give the insects plenty 
of room, especially, of course, with the larger species, but I have 
more than once had a pair of moths, e.g. Demas coryli and 
Notodonta cucullina, Avhich after refusing to pair in the breeding 
cage, have done so at last Avhile undergoing the peine forte et dure 
of close confinement in a collar box. 
