80 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
various diameters, so that the largest or most miuute larve 
may be operated upon. Two pieces of watch-spring, about 
three inches long, each having a portion at the tip heated, 
and then bent at right angles, a quarter of an inch from the 
end, should be bound round the blowpipe, as shown in 
fig. 1. A spirit-lamp, tripod stand, and an oven, are also 
requisite, the latter—represented in the sketch by the glass- 
bottle, as shown in fig. 2—being easily made from a tin- 
canister, such as chocolate is generally sold in, by punching 
out of the lid a hole the size of a florin. 
It is almost superfluous to mention that the larve should 
be in good condition, and selected, if possible, shortly after 
their skins are cast, but not before they have regained their 
toughness. They should be killed in the cyanide bottle, or 
with anything not destructive to their colour, and then 
steeped for an hour or so in a solution of alum to harden the 
skin. The internal organs are then to be removed by 
forcing them through the anal aperture with the fore finger 
and thumb between blotting-paper. The inside being com- 
pletely removed in this way, the larva should be fastened to 
the blowpipe in such a manner that the two pieces of watch- 
spring pressing against the point of the tube may grasp the 
smallest portion of its last segment. Thus fastened, it can be 
gently inflated and kept distended whilst drying in the oven, 
which, in the case of small specimens, will occupy from one 
and a half to two minutes, according to the heat, which 
should not be raised very high for those of a delicate colour. 
It sometimes happens that when inflated the larva does not 
assume the position required: it bends into a semicircular 
form, or the head-part curves downwards. To remedy this a 
simple arrangement of thin wire tied to the blowpipe, as 
shown in fig. 3, may be made to hold it whilst drying; in 
fact, by bending the wire it may be held in any position. 
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Fig. 3.—Fine wire attached to blowpipe to hold larve whilst drying. 
When removed from the oven dry, the specimens are ready 
to be mounted on twigs, very. fine ones being cut to fit in 
