476 A few Instructions for Insect Collectors. [No. 126. 



and the box opens at about half its depth ; the sides are five-eighths of 



an inch thick, and the bottom a quarter of an inch, the 



former well varnished, and the latter painted, inside and 



outside ; if made in dry weather no injury is to be feared 



from damp. A single pane of glass is best on all ac- 



■*» counts, and when let into the top, a slip of paper should 



be pasted over the edges of the box and glass, and a beading 

 nailed or screwed on it. The bottom may be covered with cork, 

 (which is good, but dear,) sola, or wax; the sola is prepared in 

 sheets in Calcutta, and the paste used should always have some 

 sulphate of copper dissolved in it ; wax is excellent for the purpose, but 

 (here) very dear. I have two boxes lined with it, and have not yet 

 found any " uninvited" insects in them, while many have appeared in 

 those with sola; the commonest wax is the best, as its strong smell 

 may be in its favor, and it is cheapest. To line the box place it as level 

 as possible, melt the wax, and pour it through a coarse cloth ; it will, 

 (if at a proper heat,) spread all over the box, which must be moved 

 as required, if not quite horizontal : one-fourth of an inch is thickness 

 sufficient, and all but large and heavy insects may safely be trusted 

 in it, even with the boxes hung against the wall. 



When an insect is caught, the first operation is to kill it, which, with 

 all but Lepidoptera, may be performed by putting them in spirits of 

 wine, or into a tin box placed in boiling water; large ones may be 

 thrown at once into the water, which kills them instantly without 

 injury, but this mode is for those only of strong make and dull colours, 

 at least I have not ventured to adopt it with any but such. Butterflies 

 and moths die on pressure of the thorax below the wings, taking care 

 not to squeeze so hard as to burst it. 



When dead they are to be cleaned, which in very many species is 

 best done by raising the wing cases and wings, and removing the soft 

 skin underneath ; the whole of the entrails must be taken out, and the 

 shell wiped with cotton; diluted arsenical soap is now to be applied 

 with a camel hair brush, and some should be thrust into the thorax 

 and head also if possible ; close the wings and elytra, and through the 

 right one insert a pin of fit size, bringing it out between the legs; 

 about half an inch of the pin must be left above the insect for the con- 

 venience of holding it, and the whole length should be such as to keep 



