188 BRITISH APHIDES. 



purpose of securing any Aphis that may yet appear 

 above ground. 



A similar negative result was obtained from the 

 investigation of a quantity of half-dried leaves of tho 

 hop gathered from the neighbourhood of the hop vines 

 in late autumn.* 



I found many dead specimens of Aphis hinnuli 

 which had been the prey of some small Ichneumon ; 

 but I failed to find either male, female, or the winter 

 egg, the true nidus of which is so much in request for 

 deciding the agriculturist as to the best mode of 

 meeting his insect foe. 



As investigators are likely to find the subterranean 

 Tychea and Endeis in the soil of hop grounds, they 

 must be prepared not to confound them with Phorodon, 

 which has nectaries and the characteristic frontal 

 tubercles. 



8.— THE PRESERVATION AND MOUNTING OF APHIDES 

 FOR THE MICROSCOPE. 



A few remarks embodying the author's experience 

 as to the best mode of transmitting living Aphides 

 from one country to another for the purpose of com- 

 parison, and also the best method for killing and pre- 

 serving such-like insects for future examination, may 

 be acceptable. 



As to transmission, the chief thing to be guarded 

 against is desiccation. Tenacity of life is so remark- 

 able in these insects, that, almost like plants, they may 

 be cut up and yet the dismembered portions will retain 

 their irritability for hours, if they be only kept in a 

 moist atmosphere. 



No plan appears to be so successful for the safe 

 transit and security of the insects in a living 



* These leaves were kindly forwarded to ine by Miss E. Ormerod. 

 The reader is referred to ber useful ' Manual of Injurious Inseets, and 

 Rlethodfl of Prevention,' for much useful information therein con- 

 tained. 



