3434 Insects. 



broken as in small pill-boxes, rolling about loosely in the pocket. Indeed, by placing 

 the cases in a cool cellar on returning home, I have kept Depressarice &c. alive and 

 uninjured for more than a week. The method of killing by boiling water can be fol- 

 lowed, by which mode less injury is done to the specimens than by any other method 

 of killing, and the insect is turned out of the bottle in the best possible condition for 

 immediate setting. Finally, by enabling the collector to see exactly the nature of his 

 captures, he is saved the disappointment of carrying home a great quantity of useless 

 specimens ; and when at home, if pressed for time, he can select just what he pleases 

 to kill and set first. My order of selection is the following : — delicate Diptera first ; 

 then, the more minute Micro-Lepidoptera, followed by the larger ones; the minute 

 Hymenoptera ; the remainder of the Diptera and the Hemiptera ; the larger Hyme- 

 noptera ; and lastly, the small Coleoptera that may have been placed in the bottles 

 during the ramble. One word by way of caution. The only families, the species of 

 which I have found to be injured by being incarcerated in bottles, consist of a few of 

 the larger and strong-winged Tortrices and the Pterophori ; but as they batter them- 

 selves to pieces equally in pill-boxes, there is nothing here that militates against the 

 comparative merits of the bottling system. After two years' use of the plan, I strongly 

 recommend it to all entomologists who collect the minute and delicate species, whether 

 of Lepidoptera or of Diptera. I shall be happy to lend to any entomologist a pattern 

 of the case for holding the bottles as above described. — Edwin Brown; Burton-on- 

 Trent, March, 1852. 



Description of a new (non-patented) Breeding-cage. — Set a tinman to make a cir- 

 cular tin pan, about 4 inches deep, 5 inches in diameter at the top, and 5^ inches at 

 bottom ; thus having the appearance of a truncated cone. Let the bottom be pierced 

 with holes from within outwards. The top must be left plain, that is, not bordered 

 with the bead of wire which the artizan will inevitably apply to it if not instructed to 

 the contrary. Next procure some fine woven willow, such as is used for the founda- 

 tion of bonnets, and which may be bought in sheets. Prevail upon a lady friend to 

 cut out and sew together another section of a cone of this material ; the lower diame- 

 ter must be b\ inches, the height about 9 inches, the sides having exactly the same 

 degree of inclination as have those of the pan. Cause a piece of flexible wire to be 

 " whipped " round the top, to which a flat cover of " book muslin " may be stitched. 

 The tin pan being then filled with sandy earth, and placed upon two strips of wood, to 

 allow the air to permeate the holes at bottom, the cheapest, airiest and handiest breed- 

 ing-cage known is then complete, — cost, about fourpence halfpenny, — capability, the 

 rearing and breeding any species of Lepidoptera, Diptera, &c, excepting the Cerurae, 

 Zeuzerae, &c, which "crib-biting'' species may be confined under a tin cover of the 

 same shape, pierced with holes at top and sides. If it be wanted to breed Cecido- 

 myiae or Chaleididoe, the chip cover may be washed over with glue-size, and a piece 

 of thin muslin being wrapped round, it will immediately adhere perfectly, and suffi- 

 ciently close the openings in the chip to prevent the escape of even the smallest My- 

 meridae ; and as the uniformity of inclination in the sides of the pan and the cover 

 insures a perfect fit on the latter being pressed down, nothing can possibly escape at 

 the junction of the two. An entire separation of the top and bottom portions being 

 made, when thiSjkind of cage is opened, the contents can be more thoroughly examined, 

 and more readily removed, than in any other kind of cage I have tried. — Id. 



On /tilling Humble-bees. — An old friend once recommended me to kill Noctuoe by 

 holding them for an instant close to the spout of a boiling kettle. Other methods are 



