104 PREPARATION AND MOUNTING 
any cleaning process, as they are quite free from animal 
matter. 
In the former chapter were noticed those insects or parts 
of them which are usually mounted dry. When they are 
large and too opaque to admit of the dry treatment, they 
must be preserved in Canada balsam or fluid. The first of 
these may now be considered. 
It may be here mentioned, that with these objects much 
heat must not be employed, as it would in some instances . 
give rise to a cloudiness, and almost invariably injure them. 
In killing the insect it is necessary not to rub or break 
any part of it. This may be performed by piacing it in a 
small box half filled with fragments of fresh laurel-leaves, 
by immersion in turpentine or strong spirit, as also in solu- 
tions of various poisonous salts. After which it may be 
preserved for some time in turpentine or other preservative 
liquid (Chapter V.) until required. As an assistance to the © 
student, I believe that I can do no better than give him the 
plan pursued by my friend Mr. Hepworth, whose specimens 
are in every way satisfactory; but when his method is used, 
the insects must not have been placed in turpentine for 
preservation :— 
“ After destroying the insects in chloroform or sulphuric 
ether (methylated being cheaper), wash them thoroughly in 
a wide-necked bottle, half-filled, with two or three waters; 
the delicate ones requiring great care. ‘Then immerse them 
in liquid potash (or Brandish’s solution, which is stronger 
than the usual preparation), and let them remain a longer 
or shorter time according to their texture. When ready to 
remove, put one by one into a small saucer of clear water, 
and with a camel-hair pencil in each hand press them flat 
to the bottom, holding the head and thorax with the left- 
hand brush, and applying pressure with the other from above, 
downwards, giving the brush a rolling motion, which gene- 
rally expels the contents of the abdomen from the thorax. 
A minute roller of pith or cork might be used instead of the 
brush. In larger objects, use the end of the finger to flatten 
