Page:Practical hints respecting moths and butterflies, with notices of their localities - forming a calendar of entomological operations throughout the year, in pursuit of Lepidoptera (IA practicalhintsre00shie).pdf/10

4 therein the roots of such plants as contain larvæ, which require the plant to be kept in a growing state; a few round tin canisters, about nine inches deep by five in diameter, with lids whose rims slip on outside the cases, and with the whole circumference of the lids cut out to within about half-an-inch of the edge; also a box for rearing the pupæ of Micro-Lepidoptera, as follows:

“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 zine, tacked down; place on the bottom of each box or compartment moderately-large pebbles or sea-gravel, to the depth of two inches, the earth, on which to lay the pupæ, composed of gardenmould, silver sand, and thoroughly rotten wood from the heart of an old tree; on this, after being made smooth, distribute your pupæ 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 the box itself should 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 pupæ