100 Objects for the Microscope. 



CHAPTER III. 



INSECTS MOUNTED WHOLE. 



COLEOPTERA, HEMIPT. HYMENOPT., as C. iv. DIPTERA. 



HITHERTO we have only examined parts of various 

 insects, and whilst they have surprised and delighted us by 

 their curious or beautiful forms, and shown us how perfectly 

 they are adapted to the wants of each insect ; yet we have 

 but a very imperfect idea of the anatomy of any single 

 insect without one of these beautiful preparations. 



They cost years of thought and experience to bring to 

 this perfection. To preserve the delicate body entire, yet 

 make it perfectly transparent, so as to display every joint, 

 and in many cases its internal muscular structure ; to fix 

 it in its natural position, and embalm it, as it were, in the 

 clear preservative medium, Canada balsam ; to draw out 

 the beautiful tongue, or the wonderful ovipositor, and show 

 the varied and fragile antennae, or lay out the fine tissue 

 of the wings, was the work of many a day before this art 

 was attained. 



And these slides are so valuable to the young student of 

 natural history that no microscope box should be without 

 one or two illustrations of each of these orders Coleoptera, 

 Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Diptera. 



No engraving can teach the lesson upon insect anatomy 

 so well as that which is learnt at the microscope with one 

 of these slides upon the stage. 



Take, for instance, one of the Coleoptera 



THE TELEPHORUS, OR SOLDIER-BEETLE. 



We find this little creature abundantly in our gardens, on 

 hedges, and on the long grass of a sunny June morning ; 

 but especially on the flowers of all Umbelliferse, such as 



