3 



SCIENTIFIC RECREATIONS, 



Thus did the excellent method of seeking the cause of phenomena by 

 experiments often lead us to interesting results. We had among us many- 

 children and young people who had reached the age of ardent curiosity. 

 We took pleasure in pointing out to them the means of studying 

 natural science; and we were not long before feeling convinced that 

 our lessons out in the fields had much greater success than those given 

 between the four walls of a class-room. Insects were collected, and preserved 



Fig. 3. Aquarium formed by means of a melon glass. 



by being carefully placed in a small bottle, into which was let fall a drop 

 of sulphuret of carbon ;* the insect was immediately asphyxiated, and we 



* The preservation of insects, and their preparation for collections, necessitates some 

 precaution. Entomologists are in the habit of spreading them out on a small board, arid 

 arranging the legs and antenna* by means of large pins. The wings should be dried by 

 placing them on strips of paper, which preserves them. These precautions are indispensable 

 if it is wished that the insects in a collection should retain their distinctive characters. 

 Worms and caterpillars can be raised in pots filled with earth, if carefully covered over with 

 muslin or wire gauze with very fine meshes. The process of hatching may give rise to many 

 interesting observations. 



