280 GRAMMAR OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



the larva and imago. Various other plans of pre- 

 serving caterpillars have been tried ; the following 

 appears the best.* 



901 . If the caterpillar be hairy or spiny, enlarge 

 the orifice of the anus, and from thence endeavour, 

 by gentle pressure, performed with a smooth in- 

 strument, to squeeze out as much of the contents 

 of the inside as possible : and while thus ope- 

 rating, let the subject be laid on a sheet of blot- 

 ting paper, that the moisture exuded being 

 imbibed, may be prevented from wetting and 

 spoiling the hairs and spines. 



902. This done, insert frequently fresh pieces 

 of dry blotting paper rolled round the end of a 

 smooth piece of stick, and continue to do so until 

 the dryness of the paper, when retracted, indicates 

 that no moisture remains within. 



903. Let the skin be now distended into its 

 proper shape, by means of a stuffing of down, or 

 other soft materials, taking the precaution of 

 guarding against the attacks of destructive insects, 

 by enclosing within a small quantity of camphor, 

 cayenne pepper, and red oxide of lead. 



904. In preserving hairless caterpillars, care 

 must be taken that their colours be not removed 

 by a too rough application of the absorbing instru- 

 ment. The chrysalis of Lepidopterous insects is 

 very readily preserved: it requires to be left until 

 thoroughly hardened ; then vitality destroyed by 



* Mr. FENNEL, in the Entomological Magazine. 



