174 ATB0RI8MATA ENTOMOLOGICA. 



"death in the bottle." 



This is a true motto — one which it behoves others as well as Entomologists 

 to bear in mind; it is, however, only with the latter that I have at present 

 to do. Various opinions have been set forth at greater or lesser length, on 

 the so-difficult-to-be-decided question, what is the amount of feeling that 

 insects possess? Into these I shall not now enter, but shall content myself 

 with enunciating the maxim which I promulged in the "Zoologist," page 1680, 

 namely, "With regard to the feeling of insects, as much has been said, and 

 much may be said, on both sides, I would only beg to add that I think 

 there can be no doubt that, whatever opinion any may form or may have 

 formed on the subject, it will be the best and safest way for all to act on 

 the supposition that they have some, if not a very high degree of feeling, 

 and accordingly to make it an unfailing rule to kill them as instantaneously 

 as possible." To this I still adhere, as will, I hope, all my "gentle" readers 

 likewise; and I have it in my power to make known a simple and efficacious 

 mode of killing lepidopterous — and I doubt not any other insects — if not 

 instantaneously, yet almost so, and certainly, at all events, without any sensation 

 of pain whatever. It is not indeed my own discovery — 'nee meus hie sermo 

 est, ' but that of a gentleman, Charles Barron, Esq., who has published the 

 first account of the method that I am aware of, in the "Zoologist," page 

 3435, dating from the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, March the 3rd., 1852. 

 His plan however is rather a complicated one, and the following improvement 

 upon it will be found well worthy of your especial attention. The agent to 

 be employed is the well-known — ^though only recently in this application of it 

 — Chloroform ! 



Go to a druggist's, and purchase a strong, wide-mouthed, moderate-sized glass 

 bottle, namely, large enough to hold a large moth or butterfly. It should be 

 of one width all the way up, for the reason to be presently mentioned, and 

 should have a glass stopper, so as to make it air-tight, or as nearly so as 

 possible. Fill the bottom of this bottle with sponge, and over the sponge place 

 a piece of perforated zinc, which you will now see you could not do unless 

 the bottle was of a uniform width. The use of the zinc is to keep the wings 

 of the insect from touching the sponge, for it will soon absorb the liquid 

 residuum of the drug, and so might and would wet and injure the wings. 

 When you are going out collecting, or if at home you want to kill any insects 

 that you may have reared or otherwise obtained, pour a few drops of chloro- 

 form into the bottle, which will make its way to the sponge through the 

 perforated zinc, and immediately "put the stopper upon it." Take it off when 

 you want to put an insect into the bottle, and then, putting it on again, in 

 a few seconds at the most the insect will be — apparently at all events — life- 

 less, and that withaut pain to itself, or injury to it as a cabinet specimen. 

 Observe, however, that, and especially if you have occasion to remove the 

 stopper at all often, the spirit evaporating, wiU require to he renewed, and 

 you must therefore carry with you a small phial of it, so as to be able to 



