PRESERVING INSECTS. 
75 
out of the water they must be laid on blotting 
paper. Tlie most preferable method of killing 
bright coloured beetles, &c. is to place them in 
a tin box, or canister, and then immerse it in 
boiling water, taking care that no water finds 
its way into the inside ; the insects are thus in- 
stantly killed. 
With regard to the larger kinds of butterflies, 
moths, and dragon-flies, when taken, they 
should be sharply pressed with the finger and 
thumb on the underside of the thorax, hard 
enough to kill, but not to injure their plumage ; 
taking particular care not to touch the upper 
side of the wings. A pin should then be 
passed through the upper side of the thorax in 
an upright position, PI. 1. fig. 3 . Those which 
are more tenacious of life, are instantly killed 
by dipping a pin in aquafortis or oxalic acid, 
and piercing the insect in the breast. The 
large moths (Sphinges, &c.) and dragon-flies, 
may be instantly killed by taking them by the 
wings held over the back, and then dipping the 
under side only of the body in boiling water. 
Another plan is to place the insect under a 
tumbler, light a bit of german tinder half the 
size of a sixpence, to stupify them, and then 
pierce them with a proper pin, using another 
pin dipped in aquafortis or oxalic acid, to 
