X6i [December, 



lies around und behind the cocoon ; the pupa itself, according to sex, measures nearly 

 or quite half an inch in length, and one-eighth in diameter at the end of the ■wing- 

 covers ; the general appearance is rather slender and of usual form, but with the 

 abdomen tapering off gradually to a rounded tip without any projections ; its colour 

 is light brownish-ochreous or light reddish-brown on the wing-covers, rather darker 

 on the thorax and abdomen, and the surface glossy. — William Bucklee, Emsworth : 

 23rd August, 1878. 



Heliothis •peltigera near Tenhury. — I should like to report my capture of a fair 

 specimen of this species, which I saw flying in the sun in a lane in this town, and 

 secured with a pill box on June 21.th. It may also be of interest to state that in 

 June, 1873, I saw a magnificent specimen of Drepana sicula at rest in Leigh Wood, 

 Bristol, which I also took with a pill box. It was seen, while still alive, by the Rev. 

 J. Gri'eene. I have not been able to look for this species since. — W. Claston, Ten- 

 bury, Worcestershire : November, 1878. 



On the preservation of Aphides, and other soft-bodied insects, for collections. — 

 The difficulty of preserving soft-bodied insects in a scientifically serviceable condition 

 is well known, and although it has been evaded, rather than overcome, by putting 

 some into tubes filled with alcohol or other antiseptic fluid, yet the delicate and fragile 

 character of others has rendered this mode impracticable; while their softness causes 

 them, if dried in the ordinary way, to shrink so that no parts can be recognized. 

 Thus with Aphides, for example, the bodies become so shrivelled and shapeless that 

 the collector had at best, as Dr. Horvath says (Eut. Nachr., iv, p. 103), to congratulate 

 himself if he possessed the wings. 



Herr D. H. R. von Schlechtendal has; however, recently communicated to the 

 " Entomologische Nachrichten," iv, p. 155, a mode of preserving soft insects by means 

 of the sudden application of great heat, the statements of which I here condense for 

 the benefit of those who are desirous to have a collection, say of Aphides in all 

 stages of their existence, preserved in form and colour ; these advantages being 

 claimed for the method, and vouched for by Herr Ealtenbach, and Drs. Griebel, 

 Tascheuberg, Mayr, and Rudow. Such a collection is now rendered more requisite 

 by the researches of M. Lichtenstein, and, in addition for us in Britain, by the work 

 on our indigenous species by Mr. Buckton, now in course of publication. 



The heat is derived from the flame of a spirit or petroleum lamp ; above this is 

 placed a piece of sheet-tin, and over this the roasting proceeds. A bulging lamp- 

 cylinder, laid horizontally, serves as a roasting oven ; in this the insect to be dried, 

 when prepared as directed, and stuck on a piece of pith, is to be held over the flame ; 

 or the cylinder may be closed at the lower end with a cork, which should extend 

 far inwards, and on this the insect should be fastened ; the latter mode being pre- 

 ferable because the heat is more concentrated and one hand is left free. The mode 

 of procedure varies according to the nature of the objects to be treated. 



For the class of larger objects, such as Hemiptera, Cicadina and Orthoptera, in 

 their young stages of existence, the heat must not be slight, but a little practice shows 

 the proper temperature required. If the heat be insufficient, a di-ying up instead of 

 a natural distention ensues. The insect to be roasted is to be pierced by a piece of 

 silver wire on the under side of the thorax, but it is not to be inserted so far as to 

 damage the upper side, and the wire should then be carried through a disc of pith, 



