Insects. 1343 



hitherto been attended with success, I will just name it. In the lid of a tin, of about 

 three pints capacity, I have a tube inserted by which to introduce the insects ; this tin 

 I partly fill with light earth mixed with decayed leaves or rotten wood, in order to pre- 

 vent the different kinds from coming into contact, or if they do, to afford them a ready 

 retreat. Since I adopted this plan I do not remember that any mutilations have 

 occurred. What I have stated is the result of experiments made merely to satisfy my 

 own mind ; but they may, perhaps, in some degree exonerate collectors from the 

 charge of cruelty, though I despair of their being fully acquitted.— William Turner ; 

 Uppingham, February \Hth, 1846. 



On hilling and relaxing Insects. — Much has been written about the power of feel- 

 ing in insects, and every collector must have had under his notice many instances 

 showing that it is very obtuse. Dr. Badham has indeed lately published a book,* to 

 prove that they do not feel at all, and if we could believe that, there would at once be 

 an end of compunction for the pain which we in some instances appear to inflict upon 

 them. But as there will still be some sceptics (among whom I confess I am), it is not 

 unworthy of our consideration in what manner we can kill them most quickly, and at 

 the same time without injury. The plan recommended by the Rev. Mr. Dawson 

 (Zool. 1240), I thought was generally used ; I did not think that any one was so green 

 as to impale beetles alive. But though bottles will do to put beetles into, they will not 

 serve for moths, Hymenoptera, &c. Nearly all the small moths may be taken home in 

 pill-boxes, one in each box, and killed by the fumes of sulphur, several boxes being 

 operated on at once by placing them in an inverted glass or other vessel. The larger 

 species of moths, bees, &c. may be taken in the same way, pinned, and instantly killed 

 by piercing the under-side of the thorax with a quill dipped in a solution of oxalic 

 acid. This poison is also speedily fatal to dragon-flies, which, perhaps, are more tena- 

 cious of life than any other insect. It is, however, sometimes necessary to pin small 

 moths in the field ; in such cases a piece of camphor secured at the corner of the box 

 soon stupefies them, but they are apt to become rigid and give a deal of trouble in set- 

 ting, having generally to be relaxed by damp. Another method of doing this has 

 lately been discovered (by Mr. Thwaites I believe), and as it has several advantages 

 over the old plan, I wish to make it known. A quantity of laurel-leaves (thirty or 

 forty) is much bruised, put into a bag, and enclosed in an air-tight vessel ; on the bag 

 are placed the insects wished to be relaxed, and they become flexible in a few hours, 

 more or less, according to their size. The advantages of this system, are that insects 

 may be left for any length of time without getting mouldy, and that moths of a green 

 colour or delicate texture may be operated upon without injury, none of which were 

 possible on the old plan. It is somewhat singular that this relaxing effect should 

 be produced by laurel-leaves, which contain a large amount of prussic acid, because if 

 an insect be killed by that poison, its membranes become intensely rigid. — J. W. 

 Douglas ; 6, Grenville Terrace, Coburg Road, Kent Road, Feb. 7th, 1846. 



On an admirable method of relaxing Insects. — Through the kindness of Mr. Dale, I 

 have been informed of a most excellent method of relaxing Lepidoptera and other in- 

 sects, and having adopted it lately, and finding it answer uncommonly well, I think it 

 will be a great benefit to entomologists to make the plan generally known. I procure 

 about a dozen shoots with the leaves of the common laurel, the younger the better, put 

 them into a coarse bag or cloth, (shot-bag I use) bruise them well with a wooden mal- 



* ' Insect Life.' Blackwood, Edinburgh and London. 



