76 
ON KILLING AND 
pierce them in the breast. But a still better 
method is to fix a piece of cork to the bot- 
tom of a gallipot, stick the insect on the 
cork, and invert the gallipot in a bason of 
boiling water : the steam produces almost in- 
stant death, and does not injure its plumage.* 
Small moths, flies, &c. are instantly killed by 
the fumes of sulphur. If the insects are in 
pill boxes, elevate the lids on one side very 
slightly, place the boxes under a tumbler or 
bason, upon a piece of soft leather, and put a 
lighted match beneath, taking care not to 
scorch the boxes. When the match is suffo- 
cated withdraw it, and let the boxes remain 
for a few minutes, when the insects will be 
found dead. A small piece of german tinder 
applied in the same manner will answer the 
purpose, and is, perhaps, less objectionable. f 
The flying insects {Neuroptera, Hymenop- 
tera, Trichoptera, and Diptera,) may be 
killed by sulphur or german tinder as above, or 
piercing them in the breast with a pin dipped 
* Newman. 
t The eggs of butterflies and moths, which are often 
laid in the collecting box, should be carefully preserved, 
and the young caterpillars, when hatched, supplied with 
food. If their proper food be not known they should be 
tried with the leaves of various kinds of trees and plants. 
