COLLECTING AND HATCHING CHRYSALIDS. 



145 



are easily captured with a small net and curved forcep3. 

 Moths and butterflies maybe handled with impunity, but 

 some beetles have a sharp bite, and should be seized with 

 light forceps. 



To preserve moths and butterflies, the larger species 

 should have their bodies opened, poisoned, and stuffed. 

 Bugs may simply be dropped in alcoholic pickle until 

 mounted. Bright -colored specimens should be placed in 

 a pickle of alcohol and glycerine. 



The larger moths are very tenacious of life, and it is a 

 difficult matter to kill them without mutilation. Diluted 

 sulphuric, oxalic, and carbolic acid, chloroform, and spirits 

 of ammonia, etc., are employed to kill them, but they 

 generally struggle and beat their wings to pieces before 

 dying. The best means of killing them, is to close the 

 wings and tightly pinch the chest. 



To preserve a moth, hold it firmly at the base of the 

 wings, between the thumb and fore-finger of the left hand, 

 with wings closed down- 

 ward. Out the body 

 open with a sharp pair 

 of fine-pointed scissors, 

 from j us t above the vent 

 to the chest. Remove 

 the contents, prime with 

 dry arsenic, and draw 

 the body-skin over a form 

 of potter's clay or roll 

 of damp cotton. Then 

 sew up the seam with 

 a few stitches. While this is being done, the moth should 

 be pinned through the chest on its side, and small for- 

 ceps employed in handling the skin. The specimen is 

 pinned from the back through the chest on a mounting- 

 board of soft pine, grooved to receive the body. In mount- 

 ing, small insect-pins should be employed, and one tern- 

 7 



MOTH PROPERLY MOUNTED 



