PRESERVING INSECTS. 
81 
to be infested with mites, &c. which will be known 
by the appearance of dust, if a beetle, immerse 
it in scalding water, but let it be thoroughly dry 
before replacing it ; and if a winged insect, put 
it into a box and bake it on the hob for a few 
minutes. The colours of the dragon flies 
(Libellulidce) and some grasshoppers, (Lo- 
custidce, &c.) will be entirely lost, and the bo- 
dies shrivelled up unless they are stuffed ; and 
the bodies of many large moths are also very 
liable to grease, unless stuffed. The underside 
of the body must be cut open by means of a 
fine pair of scissors, and the contents removed 
as carefully as possible, as soon as they are 
dead. The cavity should be nicely filled with a 
roll of white cotton or blotting paper, so as to 
give the insect its proper shape. The species 
of the blossom eating beetles {Meloe) with 
soft bodies must undergo the same process, but 
must not be distended beyond their “ fair 
proportion.” Old specimens of insects which 
turn greasy should be well saturated with pure 
spirits of turpentine, which will generally era- 
dicate the grease. Should this not prove ef- 
fectual, French chalk may be used, scraping it 
over them and then exposing them to heat, 
but the chalk must remain on for several days, 
and the process repeated if necessary. Mag- 
