THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 105 
not placed unmeaningly side by side on pins, but so 
arranged as will best illustrate the habits, food, and general 
economy of that species. We could then see at a glance the 
whole life-history of the insect, and the better appreciate those 
typical distinctions which are often more forcibly developed 
in the long larval life than in the indefinite characteristics of 
the imago. Yet how seldom do we see among collectors such 
a course adopted. One of the chief reasons for this deficiency 
is doubtless want of space in cabinets or store-boxes. To 
introduce into a collection, already sufficiently large, the 
whole antecedents and surroundings of every species from 
egg to perfect insect, would require immensely more room 
than most collectors have to spare. This difficulty, however, 
is not insurmountable. The real secret lies in the difficulty 
there is found in satisfactorily preserving these immature 
forms; and we owe our thanks to Mr. Auld for having given 
some valuable hints on so difficult a subject. As regards my 
own experience, I have several times tried this plan of inflation, 
but have not as yet been able to get very satisfactory results 
from it. Of course, the fault may lie as much with the want 
of skill in the operator as with the method itself. My difficulties 
are these, and perhaps Mr. Auld would say whether he has 
been able to overcome them, and, if so, how. 
First, one of the results is a distension and rigidity of the 
skin perfectly unnatural to the living larve. It is obvious, 
that as the skin of the caterpillar is blown out to its fullest 
extent, and kept so till dry, there can be none of the folding 
in of the skin at the segment joints, neck, &c., and all these 
indentations are completely lost in the smooth rotundity of 
the inflated skin; for instance, in such a subject as L. Quercus 
the narrow purple bands which lie between the segments are 
extended till the larva is almost unrecognizable ; indeed, it is 
quite curious to observe the loose flaccid skin, when inflated, 
suddenly start out to its very fullest extent, like a small 
balloon. 
Again, the larva is generally blown out perfectly straight 
by this method (indeed Mr. Auld gives directions for the 
attainment of this end), and by the extension of the skin the 
body is elongated perhaps one-third more than its natural 
length when in a posture of repose. The head is also stretched 
out to its furthest extent, claspers and legs the same, and 
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