PRESERVATION OF INSECTS. 277 



889. If the basin and boxes are placed close to 

 the edge of the table, the facility of burning a 

 match under the basin is increased. The basin 

 should be pressed down, and the leather precludes 

 the ingress of fresh air, and the egress of the 

 sulphur smoke ; if the boxes are examined in a 

 few minutes, the insects will be found perfectly 

 dead. 



890. All kinds of insects are killed instanta- 

 neously by immersion in boiling water ; and with 

 the exception of Diptera and Lepidoptera, none 

 are materially injured by the process. The beetles 

 brought home in spirits should be subjected to this 

 process, first, as a cleansing and purifying opera- 

 tion, secondly, because the spirit appears only 

 to stupify and deprive them of motion, so that 

 without this second killing they generally revive. 



891. All insects killed in water should be very 

 carefully spread on blotting paper ; those large 

 enough for pinning should be then selected, and 

 left until thoroughly dried; those which are so 

 small as to be injured by a pin should be removed 

 to a sheet of pasteboard; each should then be 

 floated in a drop of water ; then the water should 

 be withdrawn by a camel's hair brush. 



892. The legs and wings usually spread out 

 neatly without assistance, but if they do not, a 

 little assistance from the brush will accomplish it ; 

 the board should then be put carefully away, and 

 the insects will dry in the position in which they 



