APHOIilSMATA ENTOMOLOGIGA. 179 



carefully over a sheet of -while paper; giving liberty to any specimens you do 

 not want, and throwing away the moss again, with the like intent towards 

 any that it may yet contain. 



'THE PEOCEKANT CEADLE.' 



I EECOMMEND a large s(][uare or oblong case, a foot, or a foot and a half 

 in diameter, more or less as the case may be, and proportionately deep, for 

 keeping- the chrysalides in, which, during the summer, autumn, or winter, 

 )-ou may have collected together. The case should he made of fine wire 

 netting, so that you can see into it, and discover anything that may have 

 come out; and at the same time of close texture, so that it may not come 

 out, in a different sense of the words. 



The object of its being thus large is, that during any interval of time 

 which may elapse, the insects may not damage themselves, as they might do 

 in a more confined space. I also recommend a little moist sugar being kept 

 in the case, on which, if they choose, they may feed. 



"oMNnni GATHEETJM." 



When you have several thoughts in your head at one and the same moment, 

 it is somewhat difficult to retain them all sufficiently long to commit them to 

 paper — a few "random recollections" therefore I now proceed to indite. 



The pieces of wood for the extending boards should be of an uniform shape, 

 in having the curved part tapering for the same length— the intermediate part 

 between it and the centre being flat, or nearly so. They may then be all 

 of exactly tlie same height, and the corners all squared off to exactly the 

 same depth. 



The following sizes are those I have, on mature deliberation, determined on 

 as the best for myself, and therefore for all other entomologists: — Five inches 

 and a half, five inches, four and a half and four, three and a half and three, 

 two and a half and two, one and a half and one; and, observe, these measure- 

 ments are from the top of the side cut off to its opposite; that is to say, tlie 

 clear part on which the wings can be extended. 



The groove in each of these pieces of wood should be proportionate to the 

 size of the bodies of the insects for setting, which each size of wood is 

 intended; namely, the smallest-sized piece of wood .should have the smallest 

 groove, the largest-sized the largest, and so on with the intermediate ones in 

 gradation. Let so much suffice for this mode of extending insects. 



In relaxing insects to remove a bad or too large pin, or to remove such 

 when relaxed for any other additional purpose, do not push the insects down- 

 wards towards the point of the pin, (which is to be done against any hard 

 surface,) but press it upwards, at least first, towards the head of the pin, and 



