APPENDIX I. 281 



removed to a clean part of the cloth. When a 

 portion of the intestinal tube itself becomes extruded, 

 it should be seized with a pair of strong forceps, and, 

 the head remaining in the secure hold of the left hand, 

 the tube should be forcibly but steadily torn from its 

 attachments ; with this most of the contents of the 

 body will be withdrawn, and a delicate pressure passing 

 with a rolling motion from the head toward the tail 

 will reduce the subject to a mere pellicle. 



The alcohol lamp is now lighted and placed in posi- 

 tion beneath the oven ; a wheat straw is selected, of 

 the proper size to enter the enlarged vent, and the tip, 

 after being cut diagonally with sharp scissors or a knife, 

 is moistened a little in the mouth (to prevent too great 

 adhesion of the skin to the straw) and carefully intro- 

 duced into the opening of the caterpillar ; the process 

 may be aided by blowing gently through the straw. 

 When the skin is slipped upon all sides of the straw to 

 the distance of about a fifth of an inch, without any 

 folding of the skin and so that both the anal prolegs 

 protrude, a short delicate pin (Edelston and Williams, 

 No. 19, is best) is passed through the anal plate and 

 the straw. 



By this time the oven will be sufficiently heated to 

 commence the drying process, which consists simply in 

 keeping the caterpillar in the oven, extended horizon- 

 tally by blowing gently and steadily through the straw, 

 as one uses a blow-pipe. Too forcible inflation will 

 make the caterpillar unsightly by distending unnatu- 

 rally any spot that may have been weakened or bruised 

 in the previous operation ; the caterpillar should be 

 kept slowly but. constantly turning, and no harm will 

 result from withdrawing the creature from the oven 

 and allowing it to collapse, to gain breath or rest ; only 

 this relaxation should be very brief. The caterpillar 

 should be first introduced into the oven while inflated 

 by the breath, and so placed that the hinder extremity 

 shall be in the hottest part, directly above the flame, 

 for it is essential that the animal should dry from be- 



