THE PRESERVATION OF LARV.E BY INFLATION. 138 



in the same condition as during life. Those species where the 

 larva is thickly covered with hairs have the most natural appear- 

 ance, and give no trouble whatever. It is only larvae which retain 

 their natural appearance which seem to me worth preserving. 



I have seen a great deal written about preservation of larvae by 

 inflation, and almost fear to go over such well-trodden ground ; 

 hut, although nothing to do with Mr. Hall's query, I venture to 

 hope that the following system, adopted by me with success, may 

 be of use to some of the readers of the ' Entomologist.' The 

 system will, I venture to say, bear comparison for simplicity with 

 any other method. A few glass-tubes of small bore (say quarter 

 of an inch), a piece of India-rubber tubing, a small steel spring, 

 and a wide-mouthed lamp, are all that is required. The spring 

 can often be dispensed with, a piece of line cotton being used 

 instead. The modus operandi is as follows: — Put the glass tube 

 into a powerful flame, taking hold of one end of the tube in each 

 hand. Then, as the glass begins to melt, draw it carefully out, 

 when a half of the tube drawn out to a fine point is left in each 

 hand. The extreme point (being closed) is then broken off, and 

 you can then blow completely through it. Now fix a piece of 

 India-rubber tubing on the broad end, thus : — 



(I. Spring. h. Glass tube. c. India-rubber tubing. 



On the narrow end of the tube fasten a small spring made of a 

 piece of bent steel, which can move only up and down in a vertical 

 direction. This is to hold the anal flap of a larva when placed on 

 the tube (the end of the spring must fall on the extreme edge of 

 the point). 



The instrument is now ready for use. Having fixed the 

 eviscerated larva hy inserting the fine end of the tube into the 

 anal orifice, let down the spring on the anal flap. This holds it 

 in position. Place the free end of the India-rubber in your 

 mouth and blow gently through ; the larva at once expands to its 

 natural size and, generally, form. Then hold it over a broad- 



