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 
44 
