THE MUSEUM. 



ir 



sects, to preserve their form, color and 

 scale covering. With Lepidoptcra 

 the importance of such care is 

 evident. Many rare and desir- 

 able specimens are found to be, 

 when captured, more or less diverted 

 of their hypodormal colorinp; such in- 

 dividuals should always be preserved 

 until replaced by better. 



Avoid hastily killing by pinching, 

 as such a procedure destroys the 

 symmetry and relative position of the 

 parts so treated. Do not unthinking- 

 ly and carelessly grasp the wings; but, 

 on the contrary, handle gently with 

 forceps or fingers, being careful to 

 grasp the sides of the thora.x from un- 

 der the surface of the insect 

 without applying too great compres- 

 sion; the appendages may often be 

 utilized for this same purpose. The 

 main object being to preserve the 

 natural appearance of the specimens 

 for study, and to give neatness and 

 perfection to the collection, which al- 

 ways reflects great credit upon the 

 collector. 



The use of chloroform, either and 

 cyanide of potassium as agents for 

 destroying the life, is not entirely sat- 

 isfactory as a rigidity is imparted to 

 the muscular structures, rendering a 

 quick and easy manipulation difficult, 

 owing to the persistency of the posi- 

 tions assumed at death. 



E.xposure to the vapor of aqua am- 

 monia produces complete flexibility, 

 with the objection that it requires too 

 long a time to suflicate the larger 

 species, and the liability to bleach and 

 destroy rela.xation to the muscles is a 

 deserdatum of great importance to the 

 collector of these fragile and delicate- 

 ly tinted insects. Such a result can 

 be obtained by the combined action 

 of Aqua ammonia and cyanide of pot- 

 assium. 



Every collector of Lepidoptera 

 should have two or three wide mouthed 

 bottles or jars of different si/es the 

 smaller to receive the micro-lepidop- 

 tera; the larger ample enough to con- 

 tain the larger species Sphinigidae and 



Bombycidae; each jar or bottle should 

 be prepared in the following manner: 

 Eirst place a layer of cotton in the 

 bottom thoroughly saturated with am- 

 monia, over this is to be placed a 

 thicker layer of dry cotton, upon which 

 the potassium should be placed and 

 the whole surmounted by another 

 mass ( f cotton, covered by a piece of 

 thick paper, previously punctured and 

 neatly fitting into the bottle in such a 

 way as to hold the cotton in place. 

 The jars should at no time be long in- 

 verted. It is best to prepare them 

 a couple weeks before using, then add 

 a fresh supply of ammonia and a good 

 result can be obtained. Such is my 

 method foj- killing Lepidoptera, and I 

 have had excellent success, as shown by 

 the rapidity with which I can mount my 

 specimens, with the removal of scales 

 reduced to a minimum. 



A Companion For Old Ages. 



A gentleman who used to read The 

 Youth's Companion when a boy and 

 reads it with the same interest now 

 tliat he is a middle-aged man, was asked 

 the other day if he had not outgrown 

 The Companion. I don't believe," said 

 he, "that 1 can ever outgrow it. I And 

 in it not only the cheery, hopeful spirit 

 of youth, but the wi.sdom and e.xperience 

 of ago I like it just as much as when I 

 was a boy though perhaps in a ditferent 

 way. IJut I know that it is the same 

 Youth's Companion with which I grew 

 up, for my boys and girls like it as 

 well as I did. It is a good paper to 

 grow up with." 



The Youth's Companion will contain 

 the best thoughts of the best thinkers of 

 America antl Eurojio during 18U8. It 

 will iiriut serial and short stories of 

 adventure. The various departments 

 of thc|)aper will be current record of 

 the best work done in the world. 

 I'resent readers of The Companion who 

 renew their subscriptions, and all new 

 subscribers, will receive free a 

 beautifid illustrated calendar, printed 

 in twelve colors, and embossed in gold. 

 It is the richest, costliest calender ever 

 sent to Companion sub.scriberj. New 

 subscribers will receive The Compauioa 

 every week from the time the subscrip- 

 tion is received until January, 1898, 

 and then for a full year to January, 1899. 



An illustrated prospectus of The 

 Companion for 18'.i8 may be had by 

 addressing Perry Mason & Company. 

 205 Columbus Ave., Boston Mass. 



