EXTEACTION OF MOTH-GREASE BY ETHER. 7 



soouer any examples exhibiting abdominal stains, or indeed any 

 of the numerous species which are bound to go wrong, are taken 

 in hand the better. 



A small scoop, of a size proportionate to the insect to be 

 operated upon, will be found advantageous in the case of speci- 

 mens which are recent or comparatively so. Its use is to make 

 a channel from the thoracic to the tail-end of the abdomen, for 

 which purpose it is inserted into the thoracic end, pushed as far 

 as it will go, and then gently withdrawn again, the object being 

 to give the ether free access to the whole length of the interior. 

 This procedure may not be absolutely necessary, but it greatly 

 expedites the removal of the objectionable matter. Note. — Of 

 course the greater part of the coiiLents of the abdomen might be 

 extracted by the scoop alone, without exhibiting any outward 

 sign, but, as the ether will do the work rapidly and completely, 

 there is no occasion to take the trouble. Old bodies with hard 

 interiors may be drilled from diaphragm to anal end to admit 

 the lluid. 



As a bath receptacle nothing can be better than a bottle of the 

 shape recommended for benzine by Mr. Christy, but for ether a 

 peyjcctlg -fitting stopper is a sine qua non. This, in my plan, is htted 

 with an oblong cork stage, of a width to enter the mouth of the 

 bottle easily, and of a length shaped to fit the internal diameter 

 loosely ; it is loaded with two strips of lead, and a small cork 

 float is attached, by a tether of about half-an-inch, to one of the 

 ends by means of pack-thread. Cork is used {pace Mr. Ander- 

 son), because it is, m my opinion, important to keep the insects 

 and bodies from touching one another or the stage. As for the 

 rest, pin the specimens, &c., on the stage (the ticket numbers 

 may be written in ordinary ink, and if they are submerged even 

 while the writing is wet, and kept in the fluid for months, they 

 will take no harm), then lift the cork stage by the float, and 

 lower it gently into the bottle, till its base rests flatly on the 

 bottom, cover the insects, &c. with ether, replace the stopper, 

 and put away in a cool place, for warmth does uot suit ether at 

 this stage of the proceedings. 



Tlie duration of the bath will depend upon the size of the 

 insects and bodies to be operated on ; if large, as from an 

 average Noctua or Bombyx upwards, they may be left from six to 

 ten days ; if smaller, half the time may be enough. At the end 

 of that period open the bottle, grasp the cork-float with a pair of 

 forceps, gently lift out the stage, and lay it, loaded side down, 

 on a plate ; then pour ofl' the liquor into a narrow-mouthed 

 bottle a -id cork tightly, wipe out the bath- bottle, replace the 

 stage, replenish with fresh ether, stopper, and put away for 

 another period, by which time the cleansing will probably be 

 completed ; but it is advisable to give a third short soaking as a 

 rinse to wash off any surface grease. Note. — If the fluids of the 



