New-York tribune., 1900-10-08
LONG ISLAND BUTTERFLIES
a FINE COLLECTION TO BE ON EXHIBI
TION AT THE BROOKLYN INSTITUTE
MOUNTING CATERPILLARS.

A collection Illustrating the life histories Of the
butterflies and moths OF Long Island is IN
process OF preparation and growth at the Brooklyn
Institute OF Arts and Sciences on the Eastern
Parkway. Jacob Doll curator OF the entomology
cal department. expects 10 have it ready for exh-
bition II about two months. number Of future
members OF the collection feeding il glass jars
in the curator's room. Many Of these are par
r1cularIy interesting just now, the alternating
caterpillars putting on their winter habits OF
sombre hues Most insects that survive the winter
lose their brilliancy OF color during the cold
weather.
A large number Of the choicest specimens already
part Of the collection was raised by Mr.. Doll
last summer. Parasites and disease make havoc
with the little unless great care Is taken
with them. The jars in which they are confined are
cleaned out every day and washed IN soapsuds and
carbolic acid every other day, while fresh food is
provided daily
Several interesting happenings were noted inside
the jars. Some small care-plllars which were feed
ing on thistles had woven a web above themselves.
When at liberty this a protection from
sun, rain and marsuders while they are eating.
Another corpUient fellow had turned from his nat
ursl green 70 dlngy yellow color. He was fasten-
ing 6 strap over his shoulder and attaching him
SELF BY q siIken cable to sassafras stalk prepara-
tory 10 going into the chrysalis stage. IN ad-
joining wire covered cage an assortment Of chry-
sandes and cocoons will await the spring sun be-
fore releasing their imprisoned flyers.
When Mr.. Doll seen by q Tribune reporter G
lot OF caterpillar skins, from which long straws
pr0truded. lay on the table before him These he
was patiently blowing, one BY one the caterpillar
end being held meantime in the little oven before
him while With his breath he kept the body dis
tended until II sufficiently dry preserve its
shape Mounting Of caterpillars Is comparatively
new 70 this country, although Il has been done n
Germany for than century. There Is al
ready q large colecnon Of the worms. and the work
has been done so deity that. only for the motion
II would be impossible 70 tell the live from the
dead ones. Said a young girl, as she looked at
treyfu OF assorted sizes, from those as large
big cigar 20 little 1T must be the crawling
that always scares me for these look exactly like
1--we ones, but m bit afraid Of them"
Among the cur1osiries tiny spun silk
bags IN which members Of the LtmenitiE family
pass the winter in the larya state.
a lot Of those fellows fooled this season"
said Mr.. Doll II found them at T-7rk on their
bags early as September !, and I I'd, Ono! 50
we're TO have an early frostr But l1e so many
weather signs. they failed me-
The insects crawl into the bags and remain dur
tnE cold weather, ard when there is & warm day
they come out, feed and 60 back es the sun gets
toward the west
The curator displayed q large number OF para
sites that he had taken from one caterpillar: The
havoc that they work was well Illustrated by 20
OF 300 caterpillars that he recently captured from
some jiEnscn weed. and out OF which only two were
f. for specimens.