PRESBRVINQ THE COLOUR OF THE AGRIONIN^. 35 



There is, however, a method, which has been tried by Mr. 

 F. W. Terry and myself, which answers remarkably well in 

 most cases, though it has its drawbacks. It will be found useful 

 for the genera Platycnemis, Erythr omnia, Ptjrrhosoina, Ischnura, 

 Agrion, and Enallagma. 



The process of preparing for the cabinet is of course rendered 

 more tedious, but will, I think, repay the extra trouble expended 

 on it. 



The insects should be killed in the usual way by cyanide, &c., 

 and as soon as dead should be pinned on a narrow piece of cork 

 about an inch and a half wide and eight or nine inches long. 

 The legs should be set out, but not the wings ; about a dozen 

 specimens can be pinned out on one piece of cork. The cork, 

 with insects, should now be placed in a wide-mouthed jar full of 

 spirit (methylated is quite good enough) and securely stoppered. 

 After about a month they may be taken out and allowed to dry ; 

 the spirit on the wings should be absorbed by blotting-paper, as 

 otherwise they are liable to become clouded. The wings may 

 now be relaxed by touching the joints with wood-naphtha on a 

 camel-hair brush, and the insect set. Care should be taken that 

 the joint itself is relaxed and the wing not bent above the joint. 

 The legs must be set before the insect is put into the spirit, as 

 it is impossible to relax them afterwards. 



By this process the blue colour of the Agrions is very well 

 preserved ; if anything, it turns slightly whiter. The colour of 

 the thorax is also good, and Ischnura elcgaiis var. rufescens turns 

 out splendidly. 



This method cannot be recommended for immature speci- 

 mens, as the body almost invariably curls and buckles on being 

 taken out of the spirit. Another disadvantage is the tendency 

 which the wings have to become a little cloudy ; but this cannot 

 be seen when the insects are arranged in a cabinet-drawer 

 against a white background. 



80, Oxford Gardens, Netting Hill, W. 



[We have examined several specimens of Agrion mercuriale 

 and Enallagma cyathigerum thus prepared, and, judging from 

 them, it seems certain that anyone who will take the necessary 

 trouble will, by using Mr. Kemp's method, at last be able to 

 become the possessor of well-coloured series of the Agrioninse. 

 It would appear that the spirit effectually dries the insects, and 

 at the same time prevents decomposition. — W. J. L.l 



D 2 



