8 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



first and second soakiugs are bottled together, and allowed to 

 settle, the clear top liquid may be used again and again as a 

 first bath ; that of the third bath may be put aside for a future 

 second bath. 



The drying process may be commenced as soon as we are 

 satisfied that the insects, &c. are thoroughly cleansed, as 

 evidenced by the non-discoloration and absence of turbidity of 

 the last bath, and by the "feel" of the interiors of the bodies 

 as we draw the scoop along their sides. Lift out the stage, and 

 at once place it in a thorough draught, such as that caused by 

 raising the lower sash of a window a few inches ; or, better still, 

 find a warm corner with a temperature not over 80^, where 

 there is no flame ; or have a foot-warmer of hot water ready, lay 

 the stage upon its flat surface, and fan away in order to 

 accelerate evaporation, for it is upon the quickness of the drying 

 that the future fresh ajipearance of the specimen depends. Ab- 

 sorbent powders will not be required unless the insects are taken 

 out of a greasy medium. Perhaps from the first to the last of 

 the process described a week or even a month may elapse, but 

 the aggregate of the actual attention required may hardly 

 exceed half-an-hour, with which short expenditure of time 

 dozens of specimens can be rendered safe from any return of 

 grease for ever, or at any rate till they perish from lapse of time, 

 or other cause. The foregoing remarks apply more particularly 

 to entire insects of small or moderate size, and to abdomina of 

 all sizes. 



Hie icings and thoraccs of the larger species — too big for the 

 bottle — are the next things we have to consider, and these 

 require a different treatment to that already mentioned. As far 

 as the former are concerned, if the thoraces are not bad, the 

 best thing to do seems to be to put a quantity of one or other of 

 the powders generally used for the purpose into a saucer, and, 

 having shaped the surface to fit the insect, press the latter on it ; 

 then saturate it thoroughly by dropping ether upon it, and 

 quickly cover over with more powder, very gently tap the bottom 

 of the saucer against the table in order to cause the powder to 

 settle closely round the insect, and also to render the head of the 

 pin visible, and put away for twenty-four hours. With two or 

 three repetitions of this procedure the specimen will usually be 

 found free from grease ; the powder may be shaken and blown 

 off, and, after a brush up with a camel's-hair pencil, blowing the 

 while, the fur of the specimen may be freshened up by a light 

 spraying with ether, while rapid evaporation is kept up by fan- 

 ning. It is surprising how quickly and easily greasy butterflies 

 may be furbished up in this way.* But beware of a flame or 

 naked light while at this work, for the injunction about benzine and 

 inflammability applies with even greater force to ether. A spray 

 apparatus, the bellows part of which will be useful for pre- 



