63 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



of carbolic acid with ten or more parts of benzine. In winter, 

 when strong laurel cannot be got, a little of this mixture on 

 cotton-wool, put into the laurel collecting bottle, soon kills the 

 beetles, which are afterwards relaxed by the laurel, even if it be 

 weak, although, of course, it takes a longer time. The smaller 

 StaphylinidcB, Trichopterygidce, &c., should always be collected 

 into small bottles of spirits of wine and water (about half and 

 half) ; if soon set they come out beautifully, retaining all their 

 pubescence, which else is very easily rubbed off. 



The harder beetles should never be put into spirit, as there 

 are very few of them that can be set satisfactorily afterwards, nor 

 should any of the species of Staphylinida with scarlet elytra, as 

 it spoils their colour entirely. A little experience, however, will 

 soon teach the uses both of laurel and spirit. If the collector 

 has time to set the beetles as soon as captured, by far the best 

 plan for killing all species, without exception, is by throwing 

 boiling water over them. This kills them instantaneously, 

 so that even those species which most quickly withdraw their 

 antennae and legs into deep recesses have no time to do so, 

 and are therefore much more easily set. They should not be 

 thrown into the water, as, in the act of falling, many species will 

 spread their wings, and be rendered useless as cabinet specimens. 



A few words, perhaps, as to the actual setting may not be out 

 of place : the insect should be laid on its back, and its limbs 

 carefully brushed out with a hard blunt brush — an ordinary fine 

 brush cut back some way is the best implement ; it should then 

 be taken up by a fine, though hard, pointed brush, and laid on 

 card on which some gum has been spread, and its limbs brushed 

 into place. If refractory, the limbs may be easily put in position 

 by means of a needle or a bent pin, which last is very useful for 

 drawing out such limbs as may have retreated under the body. 

 Many beetles, especially minute ones, such as Scydmcenidcs, 

 LathridiidcB, Halticidce, &c., may be almost entirely set with the 

 needle, without any brushing out, but species of other families, 

 such as Curculionidce, Histcridce, Byrrhida, &c., require to be 

 most carefully brushed out before being placed in position. The 

 pinion feathers of snipe or woodcock are exceedingly good 

 brushes for the smaller species, as they are hard, and come to a 

 very fine point : Mr. Matthews, whose experience in the smaller 

 insects is greater than any living entomologist, has, I believe, 



