Oct., '02] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 245 



the pan in such a way that the points stand upright. Then 

 press sheet cork down on the pins until the points come 

 through, bend over and the cork is held firmly. Take a very 

 fine and sharp pair of surgeon's scissors and split the bodies 

 underside of all that are large enough to admit of it (the grease 

 usually softens them so this can easily be done), then pin them 

 on the cork and pour in gasoline enough to well cover the 

 specimens, lay about two thicknesses of blotting paper over 

 the top and on that lay a pane of glass an inch or two larger 

 than the pan each way, and on top of that a heavy book or 

 similar weight and leave for almost three daj'S, then pour off 

 the gasoline into a bottle and save to clean paint brushes or 

 thin paint, or for any similar use. Hold a slip of blotting 

 paper to the end of abdomen of the insects to remove the sur- 

 plus of liquid, and stand the pan in a slight draught of air and 

 in a few minutes they will be all dry and the grease all gone. 

 When fully dry I go over them with a blower and by blowing 

 against the grain of the ' ' fur' ' I loosen and lighten up the 

 scales that have been more or less laid down, and restore the 

 natural fluffy look. My blower is a rubber bulb to which a 

 .small metal tube is attached. It is very similar to a tool used 

 by dentists. I do not approve of removing the bodies at all 

 because if there is much grease in the abdomen some of it is 

 almost sure to run down into the thorax to make further 

 trouble. I have .seen specimens split all to pieces by verdigris 

 (or more properly, I suppo.se, oleate of copper) which had 

 formed in a large ball on the pin. This seems to be caused 

 by some acid in the body in combination with the grease, and 

 cannot form if the grease is removed. In an insect where this 

 has begim to form the gasoline will stop all further trouble by 

 removing the grease, and the oxide will be reduced to a dry 

 powder which can be easily dislodged with a .setting needle. 

 If abdomens are removed I prefer a solution of white shellac 

 in alcohol for cementing them on again if the color is light, 

 but if dark, I make a cement by mixing a little lampblack 

 with the shellac. On a black body this can scarcely be seen. 



For repairing wings I prefer gum tragacanth, to which is 

 added a little carbolic acid or oil of clove to prevent mould. 



