Preparing and Mounting Entomological Specimens 19& 



or anything to keep out dust, and let them soak for several 

 days until the smell becomes rather unpleasant ; then wash 

 in clean water, hold the insect between the fingers, and 

 with a pair of forceps carefully pull off the head, which 

 should bring with it the oesophagus, salivary glands, and 

 stomach. For stings of wasps and bees proceed as follows : 

 Gently squeeze the abdomen of the specimen between the 

 fingers of the left hand until the sting protrudes, then grip 

 it with a pair of fine forceps, and gently pull it out. If 

 properly done, the poison gland and duct should come 

 away with it. Wash in water, and place it on a slide under 

 a dissecting microscope, and with a fine needle-point draw 

 the stings from their sheath ; this is done by putting the 

 needle under the stings at the base of the sheath and care- 

 fully drawing it towards the apex. Stain in borax carmine, 

 wash in alcohol, then in acidulated alcohol, and place in 

 water ; now lay out on a slide, place another slide over it, 

 tie with thread, and immerse in methylated spirit for 

 several hours ; remove from glass, clear in clove-oil, and 

 mount in Canada balsam. 



Small insects, such as parasites, may be mounted whole 

 in a cell in glycerine without treatment with potash, so- 

 that their internal organs may be seen in situ, but they 

 usually require clearing. Take of Calvert's carbolic acid, 

 solid at ordinary temperatures, 2 ounces, melt, and add 

 about J a drachm of glycerine to prevent it becoming 

 solid again. Soak the insect in this until transparent ; 

 some specimens will only require an hour or two, others 

 a week or more. When clear, make a cell as previously 

 directed with any good shellac cement, and when dry, run 

 on a coat of cement to its upper surface, let this become 

 about half dry, then place in the cell, fill it up with 

 glycerine, and apply a cover-glass, which must be carefully 

 pressed down with a needle-point until it adheres to the 

 cement all round. The slide can then be washed with 

 water to remove all trace of excess of glycerine ; put away 

 until all the water has evaporated, then apply a coat of 



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