PBXPAB ITION OF f\ SPTR WLl 817 



Preparation of insect Bpirai Mi V DiencN remarks thai In 



the spii found mi the u]i|m r part of tin- abdomen. 



The iuseel should be turned on ii- back and cul 



in ilic abdomen; then nun again, and insert n sharp knife into 

 the opening made, and cu1 round the whole abdomen \ oon as 

 ill i. I room, insert o small Btick of soft wood sharpened to a flal 

 point, by means ol wbicb the object can lie held securely while cut- 

 ting. All the cutting should be done on the lower Bide, so that ;i 

 in i- 1< ft on the upper pari, which can be trimmed easily after 

 iln object baa become softened in liquor po Bleeping the in 



sni in ihis iluiil for ;i couple of hours will destroy all the viscera. 

 Now bold the part dow n with :i softened Btick, whicb for this purpi Be 

 i- far superior i" mounting needles, and with a camel hair pencil 

 nil i'\i the viscera and transfer the object to rain-water, removing 

 this two or three times to insure cleansing and to remove the last trai i 

 of potash, Keep on brushing until it is certain that the object is clean, 

 and i hen trim theed lil before n final washing If it be desired 



ount the tracheae in iter can i neci irj in treating, but 



ihc\ -lii.w very well through the Rkin. Or, after mostof the vi 

 have been removed, the trachea? can be torn bj a sawing motion with 

 the hack (if the knife from the spiracles and mounted separate In 

 mounting larvae entire, thej should be left in liquor potassa? for a 

 longer time even a whole <la\ without injury, In cleaning it is 

 an to keep them in the position in whit h thi be mounted. 



Larva? of the Lcpidoptera Bho^ best when mounted on the side In 

 preparing these hold the larva under water with the pointed -tick, 

 and clear out the > iscera with a brush through the anal opening bj a 

 rolling motion. Am r a Btart has been made the process take- but a 

 short time Larva? will -land considerable pressure iu cleaning, but 

 gentle manipulation of course answers best, especially in those i <>\ 

 cicil with hair. It i- best t<> commence with the largest beetli 

 larva' one can And. Larva' too large t" be mounted entire ought to 

 he opened along the back to give the liquor fret 



Tw< nty seven grains of potassa fusa i" one ounce of water ai ts but 

 alowl on the chitinous parts of insects, but verj promptly on the 

 viscera, li Is best kept in a paper covered bottle, to i xcludc the 1 

 (Journ R03 Mic. Soc., August, 1881 



Mounting of Traohea Mr. I' . T Ha li vood dissects out 

 parts and spreads them on a glass Blide, letting them di\ perfectly. 

 He then with a peucil-brusb gives them a good ci collodion, 



after which he melts a little hard pure balsam in a t< si lul>c and puts 

 it on the object with a cover-glass applied at ono I ■ • intesi 



The Microscope, vii. 1881 pp 



