128 WOEK AT HOME AND IN THE FIELD 



remain in a bottle of magnesia for several weeks, or soak it in benzole 

 or ether for a few hours or longer. 



If magnesia has been employed as an absorbent, you have 

 simply to blow or lightly brush off the loose powder that clings to the 

 body, and then fix it in its place with coaguline. A body dipped in 

 ether or benzole will look as if completely spoilt at first, for the furry 

 coat that clothes it will lie matted and almost entirely robbed of its 

 beautiful colours, reminding one forcibly of the proverbial ' drowned 

 rat.' But take no notice of this change. Let the body have at 

 least a few hours in the liquid, extending the time to a day or two 

 in the case of very large ones and those which experience has 

 proved to be particularly liable to ' grease ; ' and, immediately 011 

 withdrawing it, fix it with a pin in a good strong draught, such as 

 you may obtain by opening a window about an inch, or, if a breezy 

 day, in the open air. 



These liquids are so volatile (and for that reason should never 

 be left exposed in an open vessel) that they rapidly evaporate, 

 leaving the dry hair to be loosened by the breeze, thus bringing 

 back the natural appearance almost perfectly. 



It is probable that many of the smaller insects that were not 

 considered to require the stuffing or grease-removing operations 

 will sooner or later exhibit a greasy tendency in the cabinet. At 

 first the abdomen is affected, and the oily matter then gradually 

 creeps over the rest of the body, finally spreading over the wings, 

 and giving the insect a most deplorable aspect. But these are not 

 irreparably lost, and the following cure will often bring them back 

 to their former beauty. 



If the abdomen only shows signs of grease, cut it off and soak 

 it in one of the above-named liquids for a day or so, replacing it as 

 above after the drying operation. If, however, the oily matter 

 has spread to the thorax and the bases of the wings, the whole 

 specimen must be soaked, using a basin or jar of suitable size, 

 covered with a plate of glass. A good draught during the drying 

 operation will do much to prevent the hair from sticking in matted 

 tufts close against the surface of the body and wings, and a gentle 

 brushing with a very soft camel-hair brush will loosen and reset 

 the fur. 



The other danger to which we have referred is the invasion of 

 certain * mites ' and other museum pests that pay periodical visits 

 to our cabinet drawers and store boxes, often committing such 

 havoc as to severely try the patience of an interested naturalist* 



