1898.] 67 



certain proportion of the drawers are affected in the way described. I tried re- 

 moving the crystals from the wings, but only with disastrous results, as they were 

 adhering so firmly ; now, however, T am emptying the cells of the affected drawers 

 of all the naphthaline, in the hope that the recently-formed crystals will gradually 

 evaporate as the air becomes purer. Naphthaline has decided advantages over 

 camphor and the like, but it is clearly possible for one's collections to have too much 

 even of such a very good thing ! — Eustace R. Bankes, The Rectory, Corfe Castle : 

 January 20th, 1898. 



[Compare my notes on the evils resulting from the excessive use of naphthaline 

 at Ent. Mo. Mag. (2), vii, p. 218. It is distinctly inadvisable to fill the cells all 

 round English-made cabinet drawers with naphthaline (or camphor either). One 

 cell, partially filled, is (if properly attended to) quite sufficient. Probably no 

 drawers are sufficiently " air-tight " to preclude the escape of the results of volati- 

 lization of a moderate quantity of preservative. But if the air in the drawers 

 become supercharged, it naturally follows that precipitation must result. — 



R. McLachian.] 



Lively halves of a bisected insect. — I noticed a few months ago a paragraph in 

 your Magazine (vol. viii, 2nd ser., p. 160) relating to the antics of the leg of a 

 " daddy " that had been burnt in the gas. A similar instance of muscular energy 

 after death (?) came under my notice a short time ago, while I was cutting card 

 braces for moth-setting in my bedroom. The windows were open, and being much 

 annoyed at the persistent attentions of a number of large reddish-brown Ichneumons, 



I made a vicious snap at one of them, and, much to my surprise, divided it neatly 

 into two parts, one of which comprised the abdomen and hind pair of legs, and the 

 other the very lively remainder of the unfortunate insect. This occurred on a 

 Friday at 11 p.m., and as neither half showed the slightest inclination to die, so to 

 speak, I placed them for company's sake under the same tumbler, and the following 

 table shows, as briefly as possible, the way in which they behaved respectively under 

 their novel and trying conditions : — 



Friday. Front part. Hind part. 



II p.m. and midnight — Walking about and Opening and shutting ovipositor 



examining tumbler with antennae. every few seconds. 



Saturday, 2 a.m. — Ditto ditto Ditto about twice per minute. 



2.15 — Resting on side of tumbler. Ditto ditto 



2.40 — Walking and examining tumbler Ditto about once a minute. 



as at first. 



7.30, 8, 9, and 12.30 — Resting on side of Motionless, but twisted violently on 



tumbler. being touched. 



1.30 — Standing on card beneath tumbler. Ditto ditto 



4.0 — Dying on its back, struggling furi- Ditto ditto 



ously when touched. 



5.30 — Ditto feebly. Ditto very violently. 



7.30 and 10.15 — Front half apparently dead. Twisted considerably when touched. 



Sunday, 1 and 2 a.m. Ditto slightly. 



Hero I went to bed, and next morning the tail part had ceased to move. 

 C. H. Moetimek, Wigmore, Holmwood, Surrey : January, 1898. 



