280 ENTOMOLOGY. 



Cleansing Greasy Beetles. To clean greasy beetles, etc., 

 dip them for a half to a whole minute in spirits of am- 

 monia (liquor ammonias), and wash them in water (the 

 hotter the better). A longer stay in ammonia and a care- 

 ful washing dissolves the verdigris on pins (John Hamil- 

 ton). Others soak them in benzine, but they should not 

 be left too long in it, as they thereby become very brittle. 

 Dubois removes verdigris from insect-pins by immersing 

 them in benzine for several hours. Primrose-beetles are 

 the only ones that the benzine bath can alter. 



To Wash Old, Soiled Specimens. Place the specimens in 

 a tin kettle three quarters filled with moist sand, to soften 

 them; small species should remain therein overnight, 

 larger ones for twenty-four hours; then wash them with 

 cold water, using a small stiff paint-brush, and if not suf- 

 ficiently clean apply soap, rubbing with the brush and then 

 washing them with cold water. On species of Trox, Lach- 

 nosterna, etc., covered with a layer of mud on the wings, 

 the soap should be allowed to remain for a few hours, and 

 then washed off with cold water (Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc., 

 vi. 24). 



COLLECTING AND PRESERVING HEMIPTERA. 



This group of insects has been much neglected, though 

 no group will yield more novel discoveries than this. By 

 sweeping grass and herbage, as for beetles, in the latter 

 part of summer, large numbers occur which can best be 

 obtained in this way. Hibernating species are found under 

 leaves in hard-wood forests, and can be obtained by sifting 

 the leaves. The large carnivorous kinds are sometimes 

 found on bushes with caterpillars transfixed on their beak. 

 Aquatic species should be taken out with the water-net by 

 thrusting it suddenly under surface swimming species, or 

 by pushing it among submerged grass or weeds where the 

 smaller forms may be lurking; several kinds occur under 

 submerged logs, sticks, etc. 



