71 



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, and put a lighted match underneath, 

 taking care not to scorch the boxes. When the 

 match is suffocated withdraw it, and let the 

 boxes remain for a few minutes, when the in- 

 sects will be found dead *. 



The flying insects (Neuroptera, Htjmenoptera, 

 Trichoptera, and Dlptera,) may be killed by 

 squeezing the thorax, or piercing them in the 

 breast with a pin dipped in aquafortis. Small 

 insects in quills are immediately killed, by put- 

 ting the quills into hot water, for a few second?. 



* Tlie eggs of butterflies aud moths, which are often 

 laid ill the collecting box, should be carefully preserved, 

 and the young caterpillars, when hatched, supplied with 

 food. If their proper food is not known they should be 

 tried with the leaves of various kinds of trees and plants. 

 Specimens of very rare insects have been reared fiom eggs 

 thus obtained. It is an astonishing fact, and shews the 

 wonderful provision of nature for the preservation of her 

 creatures, that it is almost impossible to kill a female of 

 this and other tribes of insects before she has lain her 

 eggs. 



