HOW TO DISSECT INSECTS. 99 



sible, even more wonderful, and, if possible, should 

 be examined. The mode of doing so is simple and 

 easy. If the Woolly Bear, for example, is to be dis- 

 sected, the easiest mode of doing so is as follows : — 



Get a shallow vessel, glass if possible, about an 

 inch or so in depth ; load a flat piece of cork with 

 lead, put it at the bottom of the vessel, and fill it 

 nearly to the top with water. Now take the cater- 

 pillar, which may be killed by a momentary immer- 

 sion in boiling water, or by being placed in spirits of 

 wine, and with a few minikin pins fasten it on its 

 back on the cork. The pins of course must only just 

 run through the skin, and two will be sufficient at 

 first, one at each end. 



Now take a pair of fine scissors, and carefully slit 

 up the skin the entire length of the creature, draw 

 the skin aside right and left, and pin it down to the 

 cork. 



The creature will now exhibit portions of organs of 

 different shapes and characters, the remainder being 

 concealed under the mass of fat that is collected in 

 the interior. This fat must be carefully removed in 

 order to show the vital organs ; and this object is 

 best attained by using a fine needle stuck into a 

 handle. I generally use a common crochet-needle 

 handle, so that needles of various sizes can be used 

 at pleasure. 



Now will appear a number of organs closely packed 

 together, and mostly stretching along the entire 



