NOVEMBER. ^ 257 



Fix in the lid of a small tin saucepan filled with boiling 

 water, a tin tube consisting of two pieces, which fit into 

 each other ; cover the mouth of the lower one with a piece 

 of gauze, and place your insects upon it, then fix the upper 

 one over it, covering the mouth also with gauze or muslin, 

 and the steam from the boiling water will effectually kill the 

 insects without injuring the plumage. Another more simple 

 apparatus is a piece of elder, or any soft wood with the bark 

 on, placed across the bottom of a mug; stick the insect 

 on this, inverting the mug in a deep basin, into which pour 

 boiling water till it is covered, holding down the mug that 

 it may not be overturned ; in two minutes the insect will be 

 dead/' This latter plan however is objectionable, as the 

 insect can hardly be fixed to the wood % any other means 

 than by running the pin through the thorax when living; 

 and as only experienced naturalists can do this, with the 

 certainty of deadening the feelings of the insect, and at 

 once extinguishing the sense of pain, I would not recom- 

 mend my readers to practise it ; others advise the head being 

 touched with a strong acid, or that the insect be placed in a 

 covered jar, half filled with bruised laurel-leaves ; and beetles 

 may be immediately killed by immersion in boiling water. 

 This is the only drawback to the study of this dehghtful 



