98 



ON THE PREPARATION OF COCCIDAE FOR 

 MICROSCOPICAL STUDY. 



By E. E. green. 



1. Introductory Notes. 



Having been asked by several correspondents to describe the best 

 method of preparing Coccidae for critical study, I have thought it might 

 be useful to publish an account of the technique that I have adopted 

 in my own work. I do not set it up as being the best method, as I have 

 not experimented to any extent in other directions ; but I have gradually 

 arrived at a procedure that appears to produce satisfactory results which 

 compare favourably with examples of mounting that I have received 

 from other working entomologists. I am. however, confident that useful 

 modifications and improvements could be effected by anyone conversant 

 with the processes employed in modern laboratories. I must also confess 

 that I work largely by rule of thumb and have not reduced my processes 

 to exact measures of time and quantities. I find, indeed, that the 

 essence of success depends upon minute variations in the treatment 

 employed— to be learned by actual experience aloue. 



2, Appliances and Reagents. 



I will first give a detailed list of the appliances and reagents that I 

 have found necessary or convenient : 



Any good compound microscope, with modern objectives. 



A dissecting microscope (preferably an erecting binocular). 



An Abbe-Zeiss camera lucida. 



A reliable stage micrometer. 



P'ine-pointed forceps. 



Small scalpels. 



Dissecting scissors. 



Two or three tine camel-hair brushes. 



