79 



put into spirits of wine, they will always retain 

 that colour, but, if the insect within is killed 

 first, or, if the fly has quitted it, such appear- 

 ance is entirely lost." 



To Preserve Spiders. (Aranea, Lin.) This 

 tribe of animals, which are exceedingly numer- 

 ous, and present an infinite variety of form and 

 beauty of marking, are generally neglected by 

 the collector from the difficulty of preserving 

 them, The following method is recommended 

 by Mr. Donovan: *' after the spider is killed by 

 means of hot water, the entrails should be im- 

 mediately extracted, then inflate them by means 

 of a blow pipe, and cleanse the inside no more 

 than is sufiicient to prevent mouldiness for fear 

 of injuring the colours ; the abdomen may tlien 

 be filled with sand." This will, in general, 

 answer the purpose j but the following method, 

 mentioned to me by J. H. Griesbach, Esq., is 

 very successful. Pierce the spider through the 

 thorax with a i)in, and put it into a deal box, 

 and hold it near the fire for a few minutes ; 

 when the insect will be found dead, the con- 



