PREPARING ORTHOPTERA. 33 



has appealed to Diatomology by requesting our colleague, Prof. 

 P. T. Cleve, to study the species contained in those beds which 

 present distinct characters of these transformations, so that he 

 may be able to add another proof to those which he has already 

 obtained. 



Already for some time researches and comparative studies have 

 been undertaken by a certain number of diatomists with this 

 object in view, and I am certain that from these studies the 

 importance of Diatomology will result, and that one day they will 

 place it in the first rank. 



The recent labours of Dr. P. Miguel have evidently contri- 

 buted much to this, end, in offering to diatomists new methods of 

 study, which enable them to follow the different phases of the life 

 of these organisms, their transformations, and to compare that 

 which they can obtain in their laboratories with that which Nature 

 presents. 



IPreparlno ©rthoptera. 



IN Special Bulletin No. 2 from the Department of Entomology 

 of the University of Nebraska, Prof Lawrence Bruner gives 

 excellent directions for collecting and preserving Orthoptera. 

 Regarding the process of stuffing he says : Within the past few 

 years most of the objections that had so frequently been made to 

 the gathering and preservation of orthopterous insects, have prac- 

 tically been removed by the adoption of different and better 

 methods of preparing and preserving these creatures. A few of 

 our specialists only seem to have profited from the discovery that 

 these insects can be handled ' taxidermically,' i.e., be stuffed in a 

 similar manner as we would adopt for birds, reptiles, and mammals, 

 and thereby preserved, in collections equally well with other forms. 

 The following directions for collecting, cleaning, and ' stuffing ' 

 orthopterous insects may, therefore, be of much value to those who 

 contemplate making collections of, and studying these insects : — 

 Instead of throwing the specimens in spirits (alcohol, brandy, 

 whisky, etc.), when captured they should be killed in the 'cyanide' 



International Journal of Microscopy and Natural Science. 

 Third Series. Vol. VI. d 



