GREASE AND MITES. 291 



about the proportions of tlie bath for most insects ; but the spirit 

 may be increased, if, on trial with a common insect or black 

 feather, it should be found that the mercury is deposited as a 

 white stain on the evaporation of the spirit. 



Rectified aether (pure) is a better medium than alcohol for ra- 

 pidity of drying (especially in a draught), but is more expensive. 



ISTothing, I believe, prevents mites {psocidce) appearing now and 

 then even in poisoned insects. Constant care, stuffed bodies, 

 and soaking in benzoline, are the deterrent agents ; camphor is 

 a pleasant fiction, so is wool soaked in creosote, phenic acid, 

 cajeput oil, crystals of napthelin, &c. — in fact, it may be laid 

 down as an indisputable doctrine that no atmospheric poison is- 

 of the slightest avail against mites.* Get them to eat poison, or 

 drown them and shrivel them up in spirit and you may settle- 

 them, but not otherwise. I have heard of cabinet drawers 

 suffered to remain upside down to prevent mites getting to the- 

 insects ; but I very much fear that such a plan as this, is on all 

 fours with that of a man whom I knew, who, being abroad 

 in a "Norfolk-Howard" infested country, turned the head of 

 his bed every other night to puzzle the enemy ! 



The late Mr. Doubleday, the father of English entomology,, 

 never admitted camphor in his cabinet (thinking, as I do, that, 

 it conduces to grease),t but used the corrosive sublimate prepa- 

 ration instead, to touch the underneath of the bodies of doubtful 

 strangers. Loose quicksilver or insect powder is by some 

 strewn amongst their insects ; but the danger of the first to the- 

 pins, and the untidy appearance of the second, militate against 

 their general use. 



Haunts. — Having given a brief outline of the capture, setting- 

 and storing of an ordinary insect, I will, in as few words as- 

 possible, give a short history of any peculiarities attending the- 

 capture of extraordinary insects. 



Some butterflies and moths (the autumnal appearing species)' 

 live through all the winter hid up in hollow trees, outhouses, 

 &c., appearing at the first rays of the spring sun to lay their 



* See remarks on this at page 86. 



t It is quite true that, although camphor evaporates rapidly, and settles on anything, 

 BO as to be perceptible even to the naked eye. yet that it re-evaporates and ultimately dis- 

 appears. This, to my mind, is the most fatal object on to its use : its ready evaporatioo 

 leaving the insects, &c., ultimately without any protection. 



