200 PRESERVING GENTLES. 



flies, whilst they visit it to feed and to lay their 

 eggs. In a few days innumerable fly-blows will 

 be seen among the scarifications, when the liver 

 should be taken down, and laid in an earthen pan, 

 about half-filled with sand and bran in equal 

 quantities, somewhat moistened. As the gentles 

 acquire strength, they will quit the liver and bury 

 themselves in the sand, from which they may be 

 taken as occasion requires, when they will have 

 scoured themselves, and be fit to handle. The 

 same liver will produce several stocks, or suc- 

 cessions of gentles, if properly managed. The 

 largest will proceed from the blue-bottle and gad- 

 flies, which attack livers with great eagerness.' A 

 sheep's head, an old fowl, and the useless bodies 

 of several small animals kept in a moist, sultry 

 place, will soon produce gentles. Gentles are 

 scoured and rendered tough by keeping them for 

 three or four days in a mixture of sand, bran, and 

 meal. 



When you have procured gentles, you must 

 endeavour to prevent them from turning or 

 changing into the chrysalis state. You will do so 

 best by keeping them in a cool place, in a roomy 

 vessel furnished with wet sand. Exposure to the 

 sun's heat soon spoils them. 



It is a common and well-founded opinion that 

 barbel and chub prefer green gentles. Roach, 

 dace, and bream like ripe, well-scoured gentles 



