58 NATURE STUDY AND LIFE 



the place where it is desired to have them. White, soft 

 larv^, grubs, apple worms, or maggots may be preserved 

 whole in 75 per cent alcohol (alcohol to which one- 

 fourth water has been added), or better, if obtainable, 

 5 per cent formalin, in small vials with the corks sealed 

 with wax.^ 



If the specimens become stiff or too dry, they require 

 relaxing before they can be spread. This is done by 

 leaving them in a tight box — I use a small aquarium, 

 but a tin pail or box will do as well — -with about two 

 inches of moist sand in the bottom. Lay a paper over 

 the sand to prevent injury to delicate specimens, and if 

 mould appears, light two or three sulphur matches and 

 let them burn in the closed box, or pour in a few drops 

 of strong formalin or carbolic acid. It will take from an 

 hour to a day, or even more, to relax an insect, according 

 to its size and dryness. The softening may be hastened 

 by moderate warming and is retarded by cold. If a leg 

 or antenna is broken, it may be mended with a touch of 

 white shellac. 



Very small insects, — gnats, fleas, lice, newly hatched 

 larv^, etc., — can be mounted by simply gluing them to 

 the glass, with no attempt to spread.^ 



The dried specimens should be placed in their perma- 

 nent positions in the glass mounting cases and sealed up 

 as speedily as practicable to insure them against attacks 



1 Instead, these specimens may be easily sealed in glass tubes, making 

 neat and permanent mounts. 



2 Many of these minute insects may be mounted beautifully on an 

 ordinary microscopic slide, and the whole life story be brought under a 

 single cover slip. 



