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PREVENTION AND CUBE OF GREASE. 



By Rev. Joseph Greene, M.A., F.E.S. 



Two communications on this subject (Entom. 33 and 109) are 

 of much interest to me. Let me thank Messrs. Christy and 

 Arkle for the kind manner in which they have referred to my 

 method for the above. The few following remarks on the subject 

 may perhaps be of some use. Both gentlemen advocate the use 

 of French chalk or plaster of Paris. Mr. Arkle in particular 

 employs a very elaborate apparatus. Let me assure them that 

 the use of chalk is not only unnecessary, but is more or less 

 injurious, as I hope to show. As Mr. Christy's recommendations 

 apply only to the bodies, and not the whole insect, I will consider 

 them first. The main points are — 1st. " The bodies, whether 

 excavated or not, must be soaked in benzine collas ; the most 

 convenient bottle that I have tried is one holding 4 ozs., not more 

 than three inches in height, and having a mouth fully one and a 

 half inches wide." 2nd. " Tlie bodies should remain several days 

 at least in the benzine." 3rd. " Drying. Lay the body on 

 blotting-paper, but only for a few seconds, and then bury it 

 immediately in powdered French chalk," &c. No. 1. The using 

 a bottle such as Mr. Christy describes is unnecessary, and, I 

 should think, expensive. This I will endeavour to prove. Take, 

 say, a shilling bottle of benzine. Then put into a wine-glass 

 one and a half or even two dozen more or less cleaned bodies of 

 ordinary-sized Borabyces or Noctuse labelled as usual. Pour a 

 tablespoonful or so of the benzine into the glass, till the bodies 

 are well covered ; then place the glass in some safe place, and 

 cover it over to keep out the air. This being done, we come to 

 No. 2. I have never (in the above case) found it necessary to 

 soak them for a longer period than twelve to eighteen hours. At 

 the expiration of that time take them out and place them (as 

 directed No. 3) on clean blotting-paper, but do not remove them 

 in a few seconds ; on the contrary, leave them there, and in a 

 couple of hours or less the benzine will have evaporated, leaving 

 the bodies without a vestige of grease and in faultless condition. 

 No need of chalk, &c. It may be that too many bodies have 

 been placed in the glass, or two little benzine, and consequently 

 some of them may have to be re-soaked ; but a little experience 

 will soon rectify this. Throw away the saturated benzine and 

 proceed as before with a new batch. As to the number of bodies 

 that can be cleaned in this way by a shilling bottle of benzine, 

 it depends of course upon their size ; but take D. coryll among 

 the Bombyces and A. tragopoginis among the Noctuse, and I 

 should say that such a bottle would suffice for at least six dozen. 

 I have employed this simple plan for many years, and with 

 unfailing success. Will Mr. Christy try it ? As bearing on the 



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