30 



for the last purpose, a knowledge of the proper food-plant is 

 most essential.* 



Next to useful insects, illustrations of those which are the 

 source of injuries to man will be worthy of attention. 



Finally, the habits, transformations, and economy of Insects 

 generally, are a most profitable field of study, whenever oppor- 

 tunity may occur, and illustrations of these are well worthy 

 of preservation. 



Butterflies, moths, and other delicate insects, may be killed 

 with chloroform, with the vapour of ether, by holding them 

 in the steam of a kettle, or by dipping, a needle into a solution 

 of oxalic acid, and piercing therewith the chest immediately 

 behind the head. Butterflies may be killed also by pinching 

 them smartly with the finger and thumb under the wings, but 

 this is a very rough method, to be avoided when other means 

 are possible. Very large moths should have the body opened, 

 the contents removed, and replaced by fine cotton. Moths, 

 butterflies, &c., should be pinned between the wings, with 

 slender pins of suitable length, and stuck in air-tight book 

 boxes, lined with cork ; or on shallow trays, lined with cork or 

 pith, and fitting into an air-tight chest; camphor, or other 

 similar drug, being placed in each box or tray, in muslin, 

 or other light material, to prevent minute depredators com- 

 mitting havoc amongst them, which they will not fail to do, 

 unless great care and watchfulness be exercised. Great care 

 should be taken to fasten the camphor beyond all chance of 

 becoming loose. 



Beetles may be killed instantaneously by immersion in 



* For fuller particulars on this subject see a shilling pamphlet, by Lady 

 Dorothy Neville, on the " Ailanthus Silkworm." Published at 162, Fleet-street ; 

 and " Notes on the Silk-producing Insects of India, and its adjacent countries," 

 by Mr. F. Moore. Published in " The Technologist," for July, 1862. 



A prize of 1,000 francs is offered by the Societe Imperial e Zoologique d' Accli- 

 matation, at Paris, for the acclimatation in France, or Algeria, prior to December, 

 1866, of any new species of moth, producing silk fit for industrial purposes. The 

 Acclimatization Society of London is also desirous of aiding in the naturalizing 

 in England of silk-moths, or other creatures likely to prove serviceable. 



