258 THE entomologist's record. 



There can be no doubt that the huge factories, colHeries with their 

 hideous accompaniments, rows of jerry-built coUiers' dwelling- 

 houses, and other nineteenth century improvements (?), which are 

 hemming in and around Shefifield on every side, are playing dreadful 

 havoc with the insect fauna and flora throughout the district ; and 

 while the owners of these works are allowed to belch forth sulphur and 

 other noxious vapours from their hundreds of chimneys, darkening and 

 polluting the atmosphere all around, there is little to hope for in this 

 district in the future, so far as entomology is concerned, unless this 

 smoke abomination is prevented, as it could be, to a very considerable 

 extent. — A. E. Hall, Norbury, Sheffield. October, 1890. 



Killing Lepidoptera. — Having read the remarks in the July 

 number of the Record upon the use of ammonia as a method for 

 killing lepidoptera, I determmed to give it a trial I procured a wide- 

 mouthed bottle with a hollow stopper. Such bottles can be procured, 

 in several sizes, at any chemist's, and are, I think, used for potassium. 

 Inside the stopper I placed a small sponge, and in the bottle a piece of 

 blotting paper to absorb any superfluous moisture. Before starting for 

 a day's collecting, a few drops of strong liquid ammonia are poured 

 over the sponge, and the bottle is ready for use. Care should be 

 taken that the bottle be not left without the stopper longer than is 

 absolutely necessary for introducing the insect, as the strength is soon 

 lost. I have not found that the bottle gets damp, provided that only 

 a few drops of ammonia are used. Insects killed by this means 

 remain beautifully relaxed, which I find a great boon, being often 

 unable to set my captures at once. I cannot claim any merit for 

 thinking of this method, for a brother entomologist has used the same 

 sort of bottle for many years, with this difference, the agent is chloro- 

 form instead of ammonia. — J. H. D. Beales, Arthur House, Clifton- 

 ville, Margate. October i$th, 1890. 



Noticing in the Entomologisf s Record several items re " Killing 

 Lepidoptera," I have been waiting to see if any of your correspondents 

 mentioned benzine as an agent for killing. I have heard that rectified 

 benzine sold by chemists is very good to use. Can any of your corres- 

 pondents give me any particulars as to its use ? — G. A. Birkenhead, 

 Downs View, Penarth, Cardiff. 



I have had two very good illustrations during the summer of the 

 advantage of ammonia over cyanide of potassium and chloroform. A 

 personal friend of mine, who, two years ago, was an enthusiastic user 

 of chloroform, told me that he had used nothing but ammonia since 

 he saw me use it in 1888; whilst another friend who used cyanide 

 of potassium until last year, showing me a rarity, apologised for its 

 being a ^leg short with the remark " I used cyanide, I hadn't any 

 ammonia," On saying that I thought he always used cyanide, he 

 answered, " Not since I saw you use ammonia." When collectors give 

 up old methods for a new one, there must be something in it. Every 

 one likes his own method best, because he is used to it, and as long as 

 the method is a good one, it matters but little what the method is. — 

 J. W. TUTT. 



With regard to Mr. Tutt's note (p. 66), about the time that cyanide- 

 killed insects take to dry, I found that specimens of Metrocampa mar- 



