PRESERVATION. 119 



of minute Acari &c., which much disfigure and often to- 

 tally destroy them. 



The value of a collection of insects is of course very 

 much enhanced by exhibiting them in all their states ; this, 

 however, is but little attended to. A few of our larger Le- 

 pidopterous larvae have been preserved in spirits, but this 

 plan obviously precludes the simultaneous exhibition of the 

 larva and imago. Various other plans of preserving cater- 

 pillars have been tried ; the following, recorded by Mr. 

 Fennel in the 'Entomological Magazine,' appears the best. 



If the caterpillar be hairy or spiny, enlarge the posterior 

 orifice, and from thence endeavour, by gentle pressure per- 

 formed with a smooth instrument, to squeeze out as much 

 of the contents of the inside as possible : and while thus 

 operating let the subject be laid on a sheet of blotting-pa- 

 per, that the moisture exuded being imbibed, may be pre- 

 vented from wetting and spoiling the hairs and spines. 

 This done, insert frequently fresh pieces of dry blotting- 

 paper rolled round the end of a smooth piece of stick, and 

 continue to do so until the dryness of the paper, when re- 

 tracted, indicates that no moisture remains within. Let 

 the skin be now distended into its proper shape, by means 

 of a stuffing of down or other soft material, taking the pre- 

 caution to guard against the attacks of destructive insects, 

 by enclosing within a small quantity of camphor, cayenne 

 pepper and red oxide of lead. In preserving hairless 

 caterpillars, care must be taken that their colours be not 

 removed by a too rough application of the absorbing in- 

 strument. The chrysalis of Lepidopterous insects is very 

 readily preserved ; it requires to be left until thoroughly 

 hardened ; then vitality destroyed by immersion in boiling 

 water ; and when dried, it is fit for the cabinet. The ma- 

 jority of Lepidoptera spin something like silk before they 

 change into a chrysalis ; this is usually called a cocoon, 



