54 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
take the lid off and invert it over the water, again tapping the 
bottom to send the insect out. In nine cases out of ten the 
insect falls on to the hot water with its wings expanded hori- 
zontally, and the legs stretched out. It should not be left long 
on the hot water, but almost immediately be lifted out with 
a camel’s-hair brush, and placed into another vessel of cold water. , 
When all are thus killed I take a cup of spirits of wine. It 
should be of full strength,—the ordinary spiritus rectificatus of 
the Pharmacopeia,—and not methylated, as this is apt to be 
greasy, and unpleasant to the taste and smell. I immerse each 
insect in it, and, placing under them an ordinary glass microscopic 
slide, I lift them out carefully, the insect being on its back. I 
then brush out the legs, wings, and antenne, absorb the superfluous 
spirit by the brush, occasionally drying the latter on blotting- 
paper or by the mouth, and put it aside to dry. This is accom- 
plished in a few minutes, and the insect can then be easily 
removed from the slide in the most excellent condition for the 
setting process, which I will now proceed to describe. 
The materials required are some small squares of stout six- 
or eight-sheet Bristol board, such as is used for mounting 
drawings, and the following solution: gum acacia, one ounce; 
white sugar, half an ounce; water two ounces. It should be 
thoroughly dissolved, and is best made some time, and kept until 
it is very thick and flows with difficulty. The insect being ready, 
a rather thick line of gum should be placed on the cardboard 
about the length of the whole insect, and as wide as the body. 
The insect should be then lifted on to it, taking great care not to 
touch the wings with the gum. The head should be well into the 
gum, and be first raised and placed into position with a needle 
inserted into the other end of the stick which holds the brush. 
Then the two front legs should be placed in their right position, 
and fastened securely by the brush and gum. The wings may 
then be carefully placed with the wetted brush, and, lastly, the 
two posterior pairs of legs and the antenne. ‘The gum should 
be used freely, as it can all be removed afterwards. 
The insect should then be placed on one side until perfectly 
dry; indeed, I leave mine thus prepared until the winter gives 
ine time for their examination. When thus required I place a 
large drop of water on the insect, and when the gum is well 
dissolved I again remove it off the board to a cup of clear water, 
