The Capture, Preparation, and Preservation of Specimens 



fastened upon pins like the imago, and arranged appropriately 

 in the collection with the species. Some chrysalids, however, 

 lose their color when killed in this way, and it is occasion- 

 ally well to void them of their contents by making an opening 

 and carefully removing the parts that are contained within, re- 

 placing with some material which will prevent the chrysalis from 

 shrinking and shriveling. This method of preserving need, how- 

 ever, be resorted to only in exceptional cases. When a butterfly 

 has escaped from its chrysalis it frequently leaves the entire shell 

 behind, with the parts somewhat sundered, yet, nevertheless, 

 furnishing a clear idea of the structure of the chrysalis. If no 

 other specimen of the chrysalis can be obtained than these voided 

 shells they should be preserved. 



The Preservation of Caterpillars. —The caterpillars of butterflies 

 when they first emerge from the egg, and before they make the 

 first moult, are, for the most part, extremely small, and are best 

 preserved as microscopic objects in cells filled with glycerine. 

 After each successive moult the larva increases rapidly in size. 

 These various stages in the development of the caterpillar should 

 all be noted and preserved, and it is customary to put up 

 these collections in vials filled with alcohol or a solution 

 of formaline (which latter, by the by, is preferable to alco- 

 hol), or to inflate them. The method of inflation secures the 

 best specimens. 



In inflating larvae the first step is carefully to remove the con- 

 tents of the larval skin. This may be done by making an incision 

 with a stout pin or a needle at the anal extremity, and then, be- 

 tween the folds of a soft towel or cloth, pressing out the contents 

 of the abdominal cavity. The pressure should be first applied near 

 the point where the pellicle has been punctured, and should then 

 be carried forward until the region of the head is reached. Care 

 must be exercised to apply only enough pressure to expel the 

 contents of the skin without disturbing the tissues which lie 

 nearest to the epidermis, in which the pigments are located, and 

 not to remove the hairs which are attached to the body. Pressure 

 sufficient to bruise the skin should never be applied. A little 

 practice soon imparts the required dexterity. The contents of 

 the larval skin having been removed, the next step is to inflate 

 and dry the empty skin. A compact statement of the method of 

 performing this operation is contained in Hornaday's " Taxidermy 



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