86 HINTS TO YOUNG ENTOMOLOGISTS. 



which are numbered. A book is kept numbered to correspond with the 

 boxes, and in which is entered the history of the insect from the day it is 

 placed in the box. A little water is placed in each partition of the wooden 

 trough, which serves to keep the food moist, as also the earth which is put 

 into the tin boxes, that the caterpillar may undergo its metamorphosis in 

 the most natural manner. Pupee lay as deep as twelve or thirteen inches 

 in the earth. If the boxes be sunk into a bed of earth, or a Cucumber frame, 

 the heat and moisture may accelerate the change. I had S. ocellata bred 

 very early in this manner. 

 After a flood examine the rejectamenta. Mr. Skrimshire took several insects 

 by carrying home two wheel-barrows full and putting their contents into a 

 large washing-tub ; amongst others some very rare, as Aplwdius plagiatas, 

 S. quadridens, &c. The north sides of mountains, or thick short Moss, are 

 the best localities. 



31. Mr. Kirby's Plan of killing Insects. — Fix in a small tin saucepan, filled 

 with boiling water, a tin tube consisting of two pieces that fit into each 

 other ; cover the mouth of the lower one with a piece of gauze or canvas, 

 and place your insect upon it ; then fix the upper one over it, and cover also 

 the mouth of this with gauze ; and the steam from the boiling water will 

 effectually kill your insects. — Captain Blomer applies the insect to the 

 steam from the spout of a Tea-kettle. 



32. A large hump of Ammonia put into a tin box will quickly kill any Lepi- 

 dopterous insect [[including the Moth and Butterfly families, &c. — En.] if. 

 the box shuts close. A piece of paper should be put between the insect and 

 the ammonia. Put no pin in or it will corrode. The pins used for setting 

 should be longer than the others. 



33. Mr. Denny, of Cambridge, has a piece of cork with grooves for the body 

 and legs of Moths, and the wings are then set by braces, &c. Introduce a 

 stalk of hay or a horse-hair into the abdomens of Libellulce [Dragon-flies. — 

 En.]], or draw a piece of coarse cotton through with a needle two or three 

 times till quite clean. Then cut it off at both ends. 



A glass tube may be used in killing insects, putting the sharp end into the 

 thorax, and blowing therein some spirits of wine. 



See the Magazine of Natural History, Vol. IV., pp. 145, 436, and Vol. VI., 

 p. 155. 



Rev. Mr. hockeys Flan of taking Insects. — Finally, to revert once more to 

 the capturing of insects, I may observe, that Mr. Lockey has a double 

 casement for taking insects by the lamp, so that even in cold weather he may 

 sit up late at night, and when a Moth comes against the window, by touch- 



