82 INSECTS. 



a groove for the reception of the body, as deep as the insertion 

 of the wings. They are otherwise preserved as above directed. 



In the larger Butterflies, Moths, and Sphinges, the abdo- 

 men should be perforated, its contents extracted, and then 

 stuffed with fine cotton, after having been washed internally 

 with the solution of corrosive sublimate. Indeed, the cotton 

 should also be rubbed with the arsenical soap before being 

 introduced, as these insects are particularly liable to the attack , 

 of smaller insects, such as the Mite. 



Several of the Moth tribe are extremely liable to change 

 their colour some time after they have been placed in a 

 cabinet. This change is frequently occasioned by an oily 

 matter which is common to many of them. This first makes 

 its appearance in small spots on the body, but soon spreads 

 itself over the abdomen, thorax, and wings; and ends in a 

 total obliteration of all the beautiful markings. A method 

 which has been sometimes successfully adopted is to sprinkle 



all the winafs/mth powdeped ,chalk. and holding- a heated iron 



^^t^^V**^ **3fat<+J '& &* fc\*" , , ,, 

 over it ; % the chalk absoros tne^grease, and may then be blown 



oft' by means of a pair of small bellows. Another way of 

 applying the chalk, and perhaps the better of the two, is to 

 throw some powdered chalk on the face of a heated iron, and 

 then put it into a piece of linen cloth, and apply it to the body 

 of the insect; the heat of the iron will soften the grease, and 

 the chalk will absorb it. 



Another method is to hold a heated iron over the insects for 

 a few minutes, and then to wash the spotted or greasy 

 places with ox gall and water, applied with a camel-hair pen- 

 cil, and afterwards wash it with pure water, and dry it by an 

 application of bloating paper, and when perfectly dry imbue 

 it with the solution of corrosive sublimate. But grease seldom 

 appears where the contents of the abdomen have been re- 

 moved. 



ORDERS NEUROPTERA, HYMENOPTERA, and DIPTERA. The 

 Dragon- Flies (Libellulce) are frequently very difficult to kill, 

 being powerful and nervous animals. When caught they 

 should be transfixed through the sides, and it sometimes be- 

 comes necessary to put braces on their wings to prevent them 

 from fluttering while in the hunting box. The only certain 

 method of killing them speedily is by the method recommend- 



