43G VARIEIIES. 



land, by Mi*. J . Wilson. PUnthus caliginosus, at Ramsgate, 

 by Mr. Leplastrier. Mr. Weaver has found the pupa-case of 

 Cicada hcematodes ; it was attached by the legs to the stem 

 of a fern ; he conjectures that the larva feeds under-ground, 

 on the roots of the fern. Mr. Iliff has bred splendid speci- 

 mens of PhalcBna Cecropia, from pupae received from North 

 America. 



38. Mode of /ailing Insects. — " What a cruel practice ! " 

 frequently exclaims the spectator, when he beholds an ento- 

 mologist's box, in which a fine Bomhus, or other lively 

 insect, is impaled upon a pin, and whose futile exertions to 

 extricate itself produce the semblance of agonized writhings. 

 My present object, however, is not to moot the broad question 

 of insect feeling, but to quiet the apprehensions of those 

 humane individuals whose fine sympathies are called into 

 action by a practice (as above alluded to) which savours more 

 of cruelty than humanity. You will perhaps, therefore, Mr. 

 Editor, allow me to mention an expeditious, certain, and not 

 unpleasant mode of destroying vitality in the little objects of 

 our research — a plan communicated to me by ray friend 

 F. Wood, Esq. ; one which, from having recently tried its 

 effect, I can safely recommend for adoption ; and may be 

 resorted to in almost every situation, unaccompanied by the 

 danger attendant upon employing the active poisons, — such 

 as the nitric, oxalic, or prussic acids, which are frequently 

 used, — the inconvenience resulting from the change of colour 

 in the species when sulphur, &c. is employed, — or the smell 

 from tobacco, &c. 



The plan is simply this : — Take three or four juicy leaves 

 (the younger the better, with, if a more powerful eliect is 

 required, a small portion of the tip of the stalk,) of the com- 

 mon laurel ; break or cut them into small pieces, and crush 

 them quickly between two stones,^ in a thin piece of paper ; 

 screw up the produce in the latter, with as little exposure to 

 the air as can be avoided, and fix the mass by a pin in a 

 corner of the collecting box in which the living insects are to 

 be previously placed ; keep the box closely shut, and in about 

 five minutes every specimen will have expired. It is necessary 

 that the external air should be excluded, otherwise the fumes 



* At home a mortar may be einiiloyed. 



