THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



on one side is a perfect representation of the upper side of the butterfly, 

 on the opposite another of the under side, and loose between these a 

 perfectly clear horny membrane ; the explanation of this is, the upper 

 ends of the scales are adhering to the gum and what we now look at are 

 the lower ends or roots. When painting with water, to dissolve the gum, 

 great care must be taken not to let it run over the outline on to the wings, 

 or else the scales will not adhere to the paper, but will remain on the 

 membrane. 



The work is not yet finished, however ; a most important part has still 

 to be done. This is the filling in of the body and antennas ; the easiest 

 way to do this is with a fine pen and some water-colors. Place the body 

 from which the wings were severed before you and copy it, taking par- 

 ticular notice of any characteristic markings, as, for instance, the color of 

 the eyes, legs, or antennae. When finished cut it out with a pair of sharp 

 scissors, paste it in an album, and write a short description of its capture, 

 giving the date, locality and any other interesting circumstances connected 

 with it. I have found it is easier to put in the antennse after the prints are 

 gummed into the collection, as on account of their fragility they are 

 difficult to cut out neatly. Should the collector happen to be an artist, a 

 most beautiful collection may be made in this manner by painting pretty 

 designs with flowers for each species and gumming the butterflies in in 

 natural positions ; of course, too, its scientific value will be materially 

 increased if those plants are introduced to which the insect is most 

 partial, and, when possible, a sketch of the larva and pupa is added. 



The chief advantages of this process are : the ease with which it is 

 done ; the great convenience with which the specimens are preserved or 

 transmitted through the post for identification or exchange ; their greater 

 durability, for they will stand much rougher handling than specimens pre- 

 served in the ordinary way ; and, more important than all these, the fact 

 that if you have only one specimen you can show both the upper and 

 under sides at once, and also the membranous skeleton of the wings, 

 which can thus be very easily examined and makes a beautiful object for 

 the microscope ; moreover, if you have only an imperfect specimen, it is 

 possible to preserve a good likeness of it by filling in the wanting parts 

 with water-colors. Further, it does not matter how old your specimens 

 are ; I have some prints which I have taken from butterflies collected in 

 India more than twenty years ago, which are quite as good as others 

 printed on the same day that the insects were caught here. 



