228 
THE ART OF REARING 
waiting for the male, even many hours ; the only 
mischief that occurs being the loss of some eggs 
which are not impregnated. 
To preserve the males in a state of vigour till 
the moment of coupling comes, they must not be 
allowed to beat about their wings. Before sepa- 
rating the two sexes you must prepare, in a cool, 
dry, and airy chamber, the linen on which the 
moth is to deposit its eggs. 
Twenty-two square inches of cloth are sufficient 
to contain on its surface six or seven ounces of 
eggs- 
The following is the manner in which matters 
should be arranged : at the bottom of a tressel of 
light wood, about four feet seven inches high, 
and three feet eight inches long, (Fig. 28.) you 
place horizontally, on each side of the length, two 
little tables, or boards, arranged in such a way, 
that one of their sides shall be nailed to the legs 
of the tressel, about five inches and a half high 
above the ground, and that the other side of the 
board shall be a little higher, and project out- 
wards. Upon the tressel a piece of cloth must 
be placed, about nine feet two inches long, and 
which hangs equally on each side of the tressel. 
The two ends of the cloth are intended to cover 
the boards below. If the tressel is rather more 
than three feet eight inches long, you may place 
upon it two cloths, which will offer a surface of 
