NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 205 



green bronze and four the golden. Two I took on June 18fcli were 

 very perfect, one showing green bronze and one golden. — C. Northon 

 BuNN ; Magdala House, Fremington, N. Devon, June 20th, 1895. 



Queries respecting the Killing and Preservation of Insects. — 

 For a number of years I have taken great interest in the science of 

 Entomology in all its branches, but up to the present various causes 

 have prevented me taking an active part therein. I am now, however, 

 desirous of undertaking the formation of a collection, general in its 

 character, as opportunity serves ; but should first like to definitely 

 clear up, once for all, certain doubts which exist in my mind, even 

 after an extensive perusal of entomological literature. The extreme 

 annoyance it is, not to mention the heavy loss, when after providing 

 expensive cabinets, &c., for your specimens, and after taking an 

 infinity of trouble in their collection and preservation, you sooner or 

 later find them more or less damaged by one or other of the pests 

 hereinafter mentioned, as well as the importance of the subject, must 

 be my excuse for trespassing upon the space of the ' Entomologist' for 

 the required information : — • 



Firstly, with regard to killing. The cyanide-bottle seems to be 

 the mode generally recommended and in use for all orders of insects. 

 May I ask whether this poison is quite harmless to the colours of the 

 specimens ? If not, what other method is preferr.ble ? 



Secondly, as to preservation, (a) JSJoxuds and mildew. — Am I right 

 in concluding that if insects are allowed to thoroughly dry on the 

 setting-board before beiug placed in the cabinet, and the last-named 

 receptacle be kept in a dry room where there is a fire daily, except in 

 the summer, these evils cannot occur, and hence need not be feared ? 

 (b) Mites. — What is really the effectual preventive ? I propose obtain- 

 ing a cabinet, either mahogany or oak throughout, the drawers glazed 

 with glass tops, in frames containing the camphor-cells, and the 

 papered cork at the bottom painted over with a solution of either 

 chloride of mercury or corrosive sublimate in alcohol, whichever is 

 considered to be the better. The latter solution is stated to be not only 

 fatal to insect-life and an absolute preventive against the mite, but also 

 a powerful preservative ; the strength of the solution to be such that 

 when a white feather is dropped into the liquid and drawn across a 

 piece of black cloth no trace remains after evaporation. I further 

 understand that a set-insect may itself be held by the pin and dipped 

 sideways into the said last-mentioned solution, so that every portion of 

 the wings and body is thoroughly wetted, and afterwards stuck on a 

 sheet of cork, when it will dry without the slightest injury to either 

 the colours or condition. It is averred that after this treatment " no 

 living insect will ever touch " the specimens. May I safely adopt the 

 above treatment with all kinds of insects, whether British or Exotic, 

 aud is the result as represented? (c) Greme. — Is there any absolutely 

 certain preventive against this by immersion in any solution or other- 

 wise, or to make sure must all large-bodied moths and butterflies be 

 treated before the contents of the bodies become hard, as described by 

 the Eev. Joseph Greene on pages 77 and 78 of ' The Insect Hunter's 

 Companion ' ? If the latter course be necessary, how can it be carried 

 out, or, alternatively, what is advised to be done to prevent grease in 



ENTOM. — JULY, 1895. 8 



