138 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



incontrovertible that 1 feel it will bear repetition. I will 

 address myself therefore, in the first place, to prevention. In 

 my early collecting days, when cyanide was unknown, I used 

 to half-fill my collecling-box with bruised laurel twigs, — 

 twigs I always preferred to leaves, as being more juicy, fuller 

 of sap. I used a tin box to prevent evaporation. 1 spread 

 a piece of muslin over the laurel twigs to keep them from 

 moving ; then, to keep both laurel and muslin in their places, 

 I introduced transverse strips of thin cork and fitted them 

 tightly, — so tightly, indeed, that they were unable to move. 

 On these strips of cork I pinned my captures. The lid of the 

 box may also be fitted with these strips of cork, but there is 

 no occasion for a second supply of laurel. A strip of India- 

 rubber on the inside of the lid, glued firmly down, assists in 

 preventing evaporation. On reaching home I have always 

 found that the process of desiccation had been arrested, and 

 that both butterflies and moths were in a suitable state for 

 what is called setting. So much for prevention ; now for 

 the cure. When the moth is stiff, — incorrigibly stiff, — pin it 

 on a piece of cork, and float the cork on the surface of water 

 in a milk-pan, soup-plate, foot-bath, or basin of any kind; a 

 wet napkin should be spread over the top to prevent evapo- 

 ration. I would recommend the manufacture of relaxing bath 

 on this wise, to be always kept ready : first, the milk-pan, 

 then a hoop, which should just cover the milk-pan, and over 

 the hoop a cloth saturated with water may be strained tight, 

 so that the hoop and cloth can be removed together at once. 

 During the course of each day remove the hoop, examine 

 the insects, and take out those which are sufRciently relaxed, 

 replacing the others, for if left too long they will inevitably 

 become mouldy, a calamity which it is almost impossible to 

 mitigate or remove. Eschew laurel leaves on all occasions, 

 except for killing, because of their promoting mould and 

 grease ; but laurel twigs have not the same effect, — the sap 

 is expressed more readily, and ever after they remain in a dryer 

 condition. I am aware there are a number of novel expedients, 

 as ammonia and camphor, both for killing and relaxing, and 

 earnest recommendations for using them. I incline to say 

 "dont." I find Mr. Greene's ' Insect-Hunter's Companion' 

 the only good adviser in entomological matters ; but there 

 are some points on which I strongly differ from him. The 



