INTERNAL ANATOMY OF INSECTS. 201 



Before concluding these remarks on the Internal 

 Anatomy and Physiology of Insects, I shall explain to 

 you, as you will probably feel inclined occasionally to 

 pursue the subject, the best mode of dissecting them. 

 By far the most useful dissecting instruments for this 

 purpose are very fine-pointed and sharp scissors, as these 

 will enable you to divide the integument and separate 

 other parts with much less risk of injuring their delicate 

 structure than any knife. These scissors are what Swam- 

 merdam chiefly used; and he had some so extremely 

 small and fine, that he was necessitated to employ a lens 

 when he sharpened them. If to these be added a sharp 

 and fine-pointed knife or two, some needles fixed in 

 handles, also fine-pointed (you will find them more 

 convenient than any other instrument for detaching 

 minute parts and fibres,) a pair of fine and accurately 

 adjusted pliers, and an assortment of camel' s-ha.ir brushes, 

 you will be nearly set up as an Entomological dis- 

 sector. You will still, however, require a small dissect- 

 ing table, with a projecting and moveable arm for lenses 

 of various descriptions, so as to admit both the hands 

 to be employed upon the subject under examination; 

 and for this purpose probably no contrivance can be 

 better adapted than that of Lyonet, of which the figure 

 in Adams On the Microscope will convey a better idea 

 than any description a . 



Previously to dissecting any insect, it must be killed 

 by plunging it into boiling water, which is recommended 

 by Lyonet, or spirits of wine or of turpentine ; and it is 

 often useful to let larvce remain a few days in the latter, 



t. vl f. 3. 



