7376 Entomological Society. 



got rid of which, being on the exterior layers, is in immediate relation with a sur- 

 rounding stratum of benzole. The quicker the boiling, the more readily is the grease 

 washed out, but the greater the volatilisation of benzole. 



" The bodies are now removed from the hot liquid, washed with fresh benzole, 

 dried on blotting paper, and if exposed again to the action of heat will show no signs 

 of grease. It will be found necessary to test a single body from lime to time, 

 the period necessary to extract all the grease varying according to the rapidity of 

 boiling, the strength and purity of the benzole, and the amount of grease in the 

 bodies. The bodies are finally attached each to its corresponding thorax vviih Canada 

 balsam, liquid glue or gum. 



" I think I may safely state that insects thus treated will never grease again. 



" This process may be performed in the winter months, when all greasy insects can 

 be cleaned together. It is economical in time and labour, and thorough in its action : 

 it interferes very little with the beauty of the insect. 



"That the body is the sole seat of grease is shown by taking a fresh-dried speci- 

 men of an insect liable to grease, as Nonagria Typhse. Disarticulating the body, 

 expose both it and the thorax and wings to the same amount of heat ; the body will 

 quickly discolour; the rest of the insect will remain unchanged. Bodies, therefore, 

 should be always heated, while the head, thorax and wings are as yet free from signs 

 of grease. If any doubt occurs as to the question of grease in an insect, its presence 

 is readily tested by the exhibition of the body on a cork placed about six inches dis- 

 tant from the fire. Only very greasy bodies need be boiled ; simple soaking will suffice 

 for slight cases. When bodies are very small the passage of a pin breaks them unless 

 soft with grease ; I therefore prefer to soak the whole insect as above described." 



Dr. Wallace subsequently boiled some greasy bodies of Nonagria Typhae in ben- 

 zole contained in a test-tube over a spirit-lamp, and exposed the bodies thus boiled, 

 and others which had not been subjected to the process, to the heat of the fire : the 

 former were unaffected by it, but the latter were rapidly discoloured and became soft. 



Mr. Westwood communicated some notes on the time of appearance, in the per- 

 fect state, of Acherontia Atropos, furnished by Mr. W. Groves. 



Mr. M'Lachlan read a paper intituled " Notes on the Genera Mystacides and 

 Setodes, in the second part of Kolenati's ' Genera et Species Trichopterorum,' with 

 reference to the Species described in the works of Messrs. Curtis and Stephens." 

 —E.S. 



Frozen Rals. — As two gentlemen were skating on the river Wharfe, near Otley, 

 they discovered six dead rats partially embedded in the ice. The heads of the ani- 

 mals were all pointed in one direction: they seemed to have been stopped in their 

 course by the intense frost. They appeared at the time of their stoppage to have 

 been crossing from the Farnley to the Otley side of the river : one of them, like a 

 brave general, had taken the lead in the fatal enterprise, and the second was a little 

 in advance of the rest, which were following closely up in couples. — Local Paper. 



