PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
107 
of the most important, according to my idea—viz., the most sure method of rear¬ 
ing, when collected, these pupae to perfection, which has been (comparatively 
speaking) left untouched. Upon this head I purpose, in the following brief notes, 
to give the results of my own experience, together with what I have been able to 
collect from others well conversant with the subject, in the hope that many young 
entomologists may not have to endure the chagrin and disappointment conse¬ 
quent upon repeated failures—failures not consequent upon carelessness or inat¬ 
tention, but, except in the cases of ichneumon and muscardine, arising from want 
of judgment, and a departure from the laws of nature. 
To rear pupse successfully three things are necessary—a moderate supply of 
moisture—an earth not liable to mould or mildew (but, at the same time, light 
and friable, and not liable, if accidentally allowed to become dry, to impact the 
pupse)—and thorough ventilation. In order to obtain these results as far as pos¬ 
sible, in a compact form, I have planned the following 
BOX FOR REARING PUP& 
Obtain one or more boxes, of any convenient length or breadth, but not less 
than six inches in depth (either divided into compartments or not), and fitted 
with a lid, having a large space cut out of it, to within an inch of the margin; 
this open space to be covered with either close-wove wire or old calico, affixed 
with thin glue; in the bottom of the box, or of each compartment, bore, with a 
centre-bit, one or more holes, about two-thirds of an inch in diameter; cover 
these with pieces of perforated zinc, tacked down; place on the bottom of each 
box, or compartment, moderately-large pebbles or sea gravel, to the depth of 
about half an inch, and on this again, to the depth of two inches, the earth on 
which to lay the pupse, composed of equal parts of garden mould, silver-sand, 
and thoroughly-rotten wood from the heart of an old tree; on this, after being 
made smooth, distribute your pupse in such a manner, according to their size, that, 
when covered, none are more than half an inch below the surface; and cover the 
surface of the mould with a layer of moss, about half an inch thick. The inside 
of the box should be rough, and be raised on pieces of wood, or have pieces of 
wood fixed to the bottom in such a manner that it may stand clearly above the 
floor. 
By this arrangement you may damp your pupse with impunity, as it is impos¬ 
sible for them to become saturated with stagnant water, owing to the bottom 
drainage; and the moss at the top prevents undue evaporation, by absorbing a 
certain quantity of moisture, and thus striking a medium between the two extremes 
of wet and drought. Thus far respecting pupse that bury themselves. 
Our attention next directs itself to pupse that lie concealed under moss; and 
here it may be as well to mention a locality not mentioned by Mr. Greene in his 
paper, but one which, I feel convinced, will be productive, especially in the pupse 
of those larvse that feed on low-growing plants, upon heaths, mountains, and 
upon the coasts—viz., under the thick moss growing upon and around large stones 
and boulders , and upon the old stumps of felled trees. The pupse of the eupithecise 
and all the small geometrse are best kept in wide-mouthed bottles, tightly corked. 
The anti-absorbent properties of the glass and cork prevent their drying up in the 
small quantity of air enclosed in the bottle, while the glass, being a slow con¬ 
ductor, maintains it at an equal temperature. There will be no difficulty expe¬ 
rienced in getting the insect out of the bottle, as it will almost always be found 
hanging, back downwards, from the cork ; so that, on carefully reversing the cork, 
without jarring it, the insect may be boxed without injury. The larger pupse 
may be placed on the moss in the pupse box. 
ON REARING THE LARVAE OF MICROLEPIDOPTERA. 
Larvse inhabiting the stems of plants—such as pastinaca, cirsium, arctium, 
&c.—require no attention beyond keeping them away from heat, in order that the 
pith on which they feed may not become dry. I keep mine in tin boxes, about 
eight inches high, by three inches in diameter; and, thus packed together, they 
suffer no injury, except in the case of thistles, which are apt to ferment. In this 
case, they require to be taken out of the tins, and exposed to the air, until 
