AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 



83 



gentle habits, endeared him to all who saw him: and 

 when he could no longer swallow food, the quiet manner 

 of putting the hand that offered it on one side, and uttering 

 a peculiarly mournful cry, was painfully touching. When 

 bled, he evinced not the least alarm or uneasiness, but put 

 out his forefinger to touch the blood that was trickling 

 from his arm; he even allowed a blister on the chest to re- 

 main, after having been scolded once or twice for attempt- 

 ing to remove it. 



Without placing entire credence, then, in the many 

 wonderful tales related of these animals, enough has sure- 

 ly been said to excite our curiosity and interest, and even 

 to awaken our admiration. — Mag. Nat. Hist. 



ON PRESERVING INSECTS SELECTED FOR CABINETS. 



Br C. Wateetojt. 



I only know of two methods to guard prepared insects 

 from the depredation of living ones. The first is, by poi- 

 soning the atmosphere; the second is, by poisoning the 

 preserved specimens themselves, so effectually that they 

 are no longer food for the depredator. But there are 

 some objections to both these modes. A poisoned atmos- 

 phere will evaporate in time, if not attended to, or if ne- 

 glected to be renewed; and there is great difficulty in poi- 

 soning some specimens on account of their delicacy and 

 minuteness. If you keep spirits of turpentine in the 

 boxes which contain your preserved specimens, I am of 

 opinion that those specimens will be safe as long as the 

 odour of turpentine remains in the box; for it is said 

 to be the most pernicious of all scents to insects. But 

 it requires attention to keep up an atmosphere of spi- 

 rit of turpentine. If it be allowed to evaporate entirely, 

 then there is a clear and undisputed path open to the in- 

 roads of the enemy: he will take advantage of your ab- 

 sence or neglect; and when you return to view your trea- 

 sure you will find it in ruins. Spirits of turpentine, poured 

 into a common glass inkstand, in which there is a piece of 

 sponge, and placed in a corner of your box, will create a 

 poisoned atmosphere, and kill every insect there. The 

 poisoning of your specimens, by means of corrosive subli- 

 mate in alcohol is a most effectual method. As soon as 

 the operation is properly performed, the depredating in- 

 sect perceives that the prepared specimen is no longer 

 food for it, and will for ever cease to attack it. But, then, 

 every part must have received the poison; otherwise those 

 parts where the poison has not reached will still be ex- 

 posed to the enemy; and he will pass unhurt over the poi- 



soned parts, till he arrive at that part of your specimen 

 which is still wholesome food for him. Now, the diffi- 

 culty lies in applying the solution to very minute speci- 

 mens, without injuring their appearance; and all that can 

 be said is, to recommend unwearied exertion, which is 

 sure to be attended with great skill, and great skill will 

 insure surprising success. The result has been astonishing 

 success, and a perfect conviction that there is no absolute 

 and lasting safety for prepared specimens in zoology from 

 the depredations of insects, except by poisoning every 

 part of them with a solution of corrosive sublimate in al- 

 cohol. I put a good large teaspoonful of well pounded 

 corrosive sublimate into a wine-bottle full of alcohol. I 

 let it stand over night, and the next morning draw it off 

 into a clean bottle. When I apply it to black substances, 

 and perceive that it leaves little white particles on them, 

 I then make it weaker by adding alcohol. A black feather, 

 dipped into the solution, and then dried, will be a very 

 good test of the state of the solution. If it be too strong, 

 it will leave a whiteness upon the feather. 



A preparation of arsenic is frequently used; but it is very 

 dangerous, and sometimes attended with lamentable con- 

 sequences. I knew a naturalist, by name Howe, in Cay- 

 enne, in French Guiana, who had lost sixteen of his 

 teeth. He kept them in a box, and showed them to me. 

 On opening the lid: — " These fine teeth," said he, " once 

 belonged to my jaws; they all dropped out by my making 

 use of the savon arsenetique for preserving the skins of 

 animals. I take this opportunity of remarking that it is 

 my firm conviction, that the arsenetical soap can never 

 be used with any success, if you wish to restore the true 

 form and figure to a skin. 



I fear that your correspondent may make use of tight 

 boxes and aromatic atmospheres, and still, in the end, not 

 be completely successful in preserving his specimens from 

 the depredation of insects. The tight box and aromatic 

 atmosphere will certainly do a great deal for him; but they 

 are liable to fail, for this obvious reason, viz. that they do 

 not render, for ever, absolutely baneful and abhorrent to 

 the depredator, that which in itself is nutritious and grate- 

 ful to him. In an evil hour, through neglect in keeping 

 up a poisoned atmosphere, the specimens collected by 

 your correspondent's industry, and prepared by his art, 

 and which ought to live, as it were, for the admiration of 

 future ages, may fall a prey to an intruding and almost in- 

 visible enemy: so that, unless he apply the solution of cor- 

 rosive sublimate in alcohol, he is never perfectly safe from 

 a surprise. I have tried a decoction of aloes, wormwood, 

 and walnut leaves, thinking they would be of service, on 

 account of their bitterness. The trial completely failed. 



[lb. 



