INSECTS. . 67 



Some of the Dipterous insects are very perishable in point of 

 *olor after death, particularly in the abdomen, the skin of which 

 is very thin. The only way of remedying this is to pierce the 

 abdomen, and after taking out the contents the cavity should be 

 filled with a powdered paint the same color as the living subjects, 

 which will shine through and give it all the appearance of nature. 



METHOD OF RELAXING DRIED INSECTS. 



Insects frequently get stiffened before the Entomologist has 

 leisure to get them set ; and it usually happens that those sent 

 home from foreign countries have been ill set, and require to be 

 placed in more appropriate attitudes after they have fallen into 

 the hands of the scientific collector. They may be relaxed and 

 made as flexible as recently killed specimens by the following 

 simple process, from which they can receive no injury ; pin them 

 on a piece of cork and place the cork in a large basin or pan of 

 tepid water, and cover the top tight with a damp cloth, taking 

 care that it is sufficiently high not to injure the insects. In most 

 cases a few hours is sufficient to restore them to their original 

 flexibility, so that they may be easily put in their proper positions. 

 In some instances, three or four days are necessary to relax them 

 thoroughly, so as to set the wings without the risk of breaking 

 them ; no force whatever must be used with any of the members. 

 When set up, after being relaxed, they must be treated in exactly 

 the same manner as recent specimens. 



We must again caution the Entomologist to be careful that he 

 applies the solution of corrosive sublimate to all his species, other- 

 wise there is little chance of their continuing long without being 

 attacked by the Mite ; they ought to be frequently imbued. 



Mr. Waterton, who has studied deeply the subject of preserving 

 animal substances, and applied them not only in our own coun- 

 try, but also under the influence of a tropical climate, makes the* 

 following observations on the preservation of Insects : — " I only 

 know of two methods," says he, "to guard preserved insects 

 from the depredations of living ones. The first is, by poisoning 

 the atmosphere — the second is, by poisoning the prepared speci- 

 mens themselves, so effectually, that they are no longer food for the 

 depredators. But there are some objections to both these modes ; 

 a poisoned atmosphere will evaporate in time if not attended to, 



