264 KILLING OF INSECTS. 



Christmas, to a degree that I never remember ; and 

 children were afflicted with measles almost universally. 

 Early in January a violent wind was succeeded by a 

 severe frost, and in some places by a deep snow ; but, 

 after about ten days' duration, a very gentle thaw re- 

 moved all this, and the remainder of our winter was 

 mild and agreeable, introducing what might be called 

 an early spring, dry and propitious for every agricultural 

 purpose. The trees that refoliaged so vigorously in 

 autumn seemed in no way weakened by this unusual 

 exertion, but produced their accustomed proportion of 

 leaves, and the sprays of every bush and tree, ripened 

 and matured by the last summer's sun, displayed a pro- 

 fusion, an accumulation of blossom, that gave the fairest 

 promise of abundance of fruit, and every product of the 

 earth. 



THAT the death of any creature should be required 

 by the naturalist, to perfect his examination, or arrange 

 it in his collection, (and without a collection the inves- 

 tigation of any branch of natural history can be but 

 partially undertaken), may be regretted ; but still the 

 epithet of " cruel employ " must not be attached to this 

 pursuit. We do not destroy in wantonness, or unneces- 

 sarily ; and that life, of which it is expedient to deprive 

 a creature, is taken by the most speedy, and in the least 

 painful manner known. Some of our methods, if speedy, 

 are at the same time injurious, such as hot water, the 

 stifling-box, &c. ; and some, that are not painful, such 

 as stupefaction by spirits, ether, &c., and suffocation 

 by carbonate of ammonia, are occasionally not effectual. 

 But there is one process, which I believe to be neither 

 painful nor injurious, yet decisive, and communicative 

 with pleasure ; I mean the prussic acid. This fluid 

 may be imbibed by the insect without producing any 

 particular effect ; but, if brought to act upon the spinal 

 cord, or what at least is analogous to that part of a ver- 

 tebrate animal, whatever it may be called, and which 

 seems to be the most vital part of the creation, instant 



