1872.] 171 



infinitely preferable to any otlier substance, if only on account of its 

 elasticity. Tbe larger species require a more elaborate treatment, and, 

 as a rule, it is certainly desirable to eviscerate at least tbe abdominal 

 portion of the body. To do tbis, take a fine-pointed pair of scissors, 

 and cut an incision along tbe membranous longitudinal suture of tbe 

 under surface ; tbe inside can tben be extracted witb a pen-knife, and 

 a little brusb-pad of cotton wool may be used to wipe out tbe remain- 

 ing moisture. Tben fill in tbe interior witb clean cotton wool, a small 

 quantity will sufiice ; and it is better to err on tbe side of too little 

 tbau of too mucb ; for, in tbe latter case, tbe body assumes an un- 

 naturally dro^Jsical appearance wben dry. I j)refer loJtite wool in all 

 cases. Many elaborate plans of using differently coloured paper, 

 made into little rolls, or coloured wools adapted to tbe natural colour 

 of tbe body, bave been proposed, and some bave gone so far as to 

 attempt to imitate tbe markings by designs painted on tbe inserted 

 paper (!). All tbis I look upon as unnecessary and, to a considerable 

 extent, more tban useless, trouble. It is in vain to attempt to re- 

 produce tbe natural tints by artificial means ; if tbe eviscerating 

 process be performed witb suflicient care, some, at least, of tbe original 

 beauty will remain ; more tban tbis cannot be obtained, and sbould 

 not be exj)ected. Species of medium size may be partially cleansed 

 by means of a piece of dry grass-stem drawn backwards and forwards 

 (after tbe manner before noticed wben S2)eaking of tbe AgrionidcB), 

 and breakage prevented by a clean piece of tbe same stem (or some 

 similar substance) inserted permanently : decidedly tbe best material 

 is tbe straight wire-like vegetable substance so extensively used in 

 making mud-brooms ; tbis possesses almost tbe elasticity of borse-bair, 

 and is stout enougb for even tbe largest species.* 



In tbe 'Intelligencer,' vol. ii, p. 82 (see also vol. iv, p. 87), Dr. 

 Hagen very justly remarks tbat: — "If a species be sufiiciently common 

 " to allow of many specimens being taken, we are sure to find tbat some 

 "of them keep tbeir colours well without any preparation." Tbis I 

 can empbatically confirm : I bave, inter alia, large Britisb ^schnce 

 wbicb now, after several years, bave tbeir colours and intricate markings 

 almost as fresb as wben first caugbt, and tbis witbout tbe slightest 

 preparation. But he goes on to say :— " These are specimens which 

 " bad not long escaped from the pupa state, and had not yet commenced 

 " their ravenous career ; their empty intestinal canal containing no 

 "foul matter." The last part of tbis sentence is perfectly correct, 

 for it is the decomposition of the partially-digested food (assisted in 



* This material is known in commerce as 'Bass' or 'Piassaba.' Mr. Jackson, of the Kew 

 Museum, iiifoims me that it is the produce of two species of Brazilian plants — Altalea /^mi/era 

 and Leo2}olclinia Piassaba. — R. McL. 



