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II 



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Sect. XI.] 



ZOOLOGY. 



359 



apart for the purpose, and should have a number corre- 

 sponding with that of the insect. Larvn; and pupa; may 

 be preserved in spirit or solution, as well as a specimen 

 of every perfect insect that can be spared, with a view to 

 anatomical investigation.- It must be remembered that 

 the larvcB will very soon lose their colours when so treated, 

 and, in order to retain these, a specimen or two of the 

 larger ones and of their pupa? may be opened, the viscera 

 removed, and the inside, "fter it has been brushed with 

 arsenlate soap, stuffed with cotton. Boxes lined with cork 

 are the best conveyances for dried butterflies, moths, and 

 indeed for insects in general : or they may be pinned in 

 the crown of the hat until they can be transferred to a 

 place of safety. The more delicate insects, such as 

 butterflies, moths, sphinxes, the different species of mantis, 

 the locusts, dragonflies, &c., after being killed by pressure 

 on the thorax, should be pinned down, while in a relaxed 

 state, with the wings and legs kept close to the body, to 

 save space and prevent collision. The pin should be 

 greased or oiled to prevent rust, and if pointed at both 

 ends the specimen more readily admits of being turned. 

 The pin should be made fast so as to allow of the motion 

 of the box in all directions, and the fastening must be 

 adjusted to the weight of the insect. The harder winged 

 insects may be killed by immersion in hot water, and 

 after having been dried on blotting-paper, may be laid 

 carefully in boxes upon cotton, so as not to interfere with 

 or injure each other. A ready mode of preserving beetles 



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(Coleopterd) 



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on any foreign coast. 



is to put them, when dried, in a box, on tlie bottom of 



which a layer of fine dry sand has been strewed. 



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