324 PRESERVATION OF CATERPILLARS BY INFLATION. 
a portion of the intestinal tube itself becomes extended it sho 
be seized with a pair of strong forceps, and, the head remaining 
The alcohol lamp is now lighted and placed in position beneath 
the oven; a straw is selected, of the proper size to enter the 
larged vent, and the tip, after being cut diagonally with sharp 
scissors, is moistened a little in the mouth (to prevent too g 
adhesion of the skin to the straw) and carefully introduced into 
the opening of the caterpillar ; the process may be aided by blow- 
ing gently through the straw. When the skin is slipped upon: 
sides of the straw to the distance of nearly a quarter of an inch, 
without any folding of the skin and so that both the anal prolegs 
protrude, a delicate pin (Edelston and Williams, No. 19, is 
is passed through the anal plate and the straw. 
By this time the oven will be sufficiently heated to comme 
the drying process, which consists simply in keeping the cae, 
pillar in the oven extended horizontally upon the straw by blowing 
gently and steadily through the straw, as one uses a blow-pil T 
Too forcible inflation will make the caterpillar unsightly by dis- 
tending unnaturally any spot that may have been we 
bruised in the previous operation ; the caterpillar should be m 
slowly but constantly turning, and no harm will result from withe 
drawing the creature from the oven and allowing it to collapse, t0 
gain breath or rest; only this relaxation should be very 
The caterpillar should be first introduced into the oven while 
flated by the breath, and so placed that the hinder extremity 
be in the hottest part, directly above the flame, for it, is es 
that the animal should dry from behind forward; yet not 
gether, for as soon as the hinder part has begun to stiffen ( 
can readily be detected by withholding the breath for 2 8è 
the. portion next in front should receive partial attention and 
caterpillar moved backward and forward, round and rout 
the flame. During this process any tendency of the cate 
assume unnatural positions may be corrected — at least 1n | 
by withdrawing it from the oven and manipulating it; d 
