168 THF. QUERIST. 



On Qrease in Insects. — I think it may be useful to many of your"^ritomno- 

 logical readers to be furnished with a list of those moths (they are chiefly, 

 it will be seen, Bomhyces) Avhich are most likely to " grease " in the cabinet. 

 I would first observe, that " prevention is better than cure." The best way 

 of all is, to take out the inside of the bodies before the moths are first set ; 

 of course, this must be done very carefully, so as not to injure the down 

 upon the insect. It may be done as well just after the fly is dry, but there 

 is then more danger of breaking the body off. A very fine penknife, or, still 

 better, a pair of scissors, literally as sharp as a razor, — the best being fur- 

 nished by surgical instrument makers, — will be found the best implement for 

 the purpose. The mass of eggs in the bodies of the females of some sorts 

 are a fruitful source of the evil, — turning, in time, into an oily substance. 

 All other I'emedies are only temporary. This " goes to the root of the evil." 



The Puss Moth, (very much.) The Small Eggar, (somewhat.) 



The Dkinkee, (sometimes.) The Lakge Swift, (the males very much.) 



The Laege Eggah, (the males often.) The Goat Moth, (very much.) 



The Herald, (often.) The Boff Tip, (sometimes.) 



The Buff Ermine, (sometimes.)' The Large Sword Grass, (sometimes.) 



The Garden Tiger, (very often.) The Swallow-tailed Moth, (very much.) 



F. O. Morris. 



On Grease in Insects. — I find the Spirits of Naptha one of the best remedies 

 for removing greasy stains from the bodies of insects, and also for prevent- 

 ing the attacks of Mites in the cabinet; it being colourless, and soon 

 evaporating, there is not the least danger of its injuring the specimens, or 

 soiling the most delicate paper. — E. Marris, Lynn-Road, Wisbeach. 



Removing Orease from Insects. — On reading the inquiry on this subject in 

 the last number of The Naturalist, I was immediately reminded of an 

 Article in The Mechanics' Magazine for December last, p. 531, " On the 

 Products obtained from Coal," by Professor Grace Calvert, F. C. S., &c., in 

 which he mentions a rectified and pui'ified Naptha, called by an eminent 

 French chemist, of the name of Pelouze, " Benzine." It appears to have 

 great facility in removing spots of grease, wax, tar, and resin, from fabrics 

 and wearing apparel, without injuring the texture, its colour, or leaving any 

 permanent smell or mark. Benzine has, through Mr. Calvert's exertions, 

 been introduced into England, and has been found most valuable in brighten- 

 ing velvets, satins, &c. This article appears to me well worthy of a trial, as 

 it probably would remove the grease without injuring the specimens. — John 



FOTHERGILL, M. R. C. S. 



