WORK ON AN INSECT FARM

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1783, 15 July 1926, Page 3

WORK ON AN INSECT FARM

£25 FOE (WE SPECIMEN. ORDER FROM NEW ZEALAND. At the butterfly and moth "farm" of Mr L, W. Newman, the lepidopterist, Bexley, Kent, many of ,the insects are emerging from the chrysalises, while egg-laying is going on apace. Mr Newman is away in one of his periodic trips in search of new specimens, from which he will breed further quantities—some 50,000 a year—to the London Zoo, innumerable schools, and the colonies. A large Order has been placed with him by the New Zealand Government.

Mr H. G. Webster, who assists Mr Newman, opened, to a Daily Mail reporter, one of the dpors of a hothouse full of gauze-covered cages, in which there glinted the sparkling colours of fluttering wings. "Here," he said, "is the 'Swallow Tail.' We only get Swallow Tails from the 'Fens. They are wonderfully tame. They feed from your hand, when you know them. We get a large demand for these from people who want to add colour to their gardens." He picked up a butterfly and it perch-, on his hand. When the butterflies are hungry they will take sugar and water or diluted honey from the palm of a hand, sucking it up their long, tendril-like tongues. \ In another corner of the hothouse a lad was engaged in forcing a delicate butterfly to feed on a 'piece of cotton wool soaked in sugar and water. It had been put in the cage in a weak condition; hence ithe necessity of "bottle-feeding." Afterwards it was put back into the cage to lay eggs. Many freak varieties of the Fritillaries have been s6ld for as much as £25 'each. The "farm hands " are always on the lookout for a strangely coloured butterfly, for it means a handsome payment. Safe Driving Rules ..N.. N.. N.....N Here are a few rules for safe driving:— " 1. Keep your speed consistent with safety. .2. Always signal properly before slowing down, stopping or changing direction. 3 Never pass another car going in the same direction on curves or where the view ahead is obstructed. 4. Sound horn before cutting out to pass, and at all curves in a crooked road. 5. Respect 6afety zones an<d all tram- discharging passengers, and do ; not pass to the right of trams going in the same direction. 6. Keep to your own side of the road except when cutting out to pass. Follow these rules, exercise your power of observation, in cities as to parking, turns, and stops, and your record and .conscience will be clear.