MANNER OF COLLECTING ANIMALS. 89 



indeed, there are few animals without them ; they must also be 

 preserved in spirits. Besides the stomach and intestines, worms 

 are also found in the livers and other parts of the body ; also 

 in the back of skate and various fishes. 



INSECTS. 



This class is subject to infinite variety, according to climate and 

 soil. The Entomologist, or the mere collector, must not confine 

 himself to those whose beauty of coloring renders them attrac- 

 tive, but collect all that come in the way. Those species which 

 have wings, and fly around plants, we take by means of gauze 

 nets, and also those which swim in the water. Those which 

 live on putrid substances, and such as are disagreeable to the 

 touch, are seized with pincers ; they are first put into camphor- 

 ated spirits to render them clean. Trees are the habitations of 

 innumerable insects; many of them skulk under the old rotten 

 bark, and others attach themselves to the foliage. A cloth should 

 be spread under the trees, or an umbrella, and the branches 

 shaken with considerable force, when they will fall down, and 

 may then be caught. 



Insects are killed by making a crow-quill into a long point 

 and dipping it into prussic acid, an incision with it may bo made 

 immediately below tho head of the insect betwixt the shoulders, 

 which usually produces instant death. But this acid must be 

 used with much caution, because its effects are almost as instan- 

 taneous and fatal in the human subject as in the lower animals. 

 When cork cannot be had for lining the bottoms of the boxes, 

 a layer of beeswax may be used in its stead. The pin should 

 be deeply sunk in this substance, as it is more liable to loosen 

 than when in cork. 



It is of much importance to procure the Caterpillar as well 

 as the insect, and, in this case, some of the leaves on which it 

 feeds should be placed in a box beside it, so that it may reach 

 maturity. A small perforation should be made in the box for 

 the admission of air. 



Every kind of insect, except Butterflies, Sphinges, and Moths, 

 may be preserved in bottles of spirits, which will not injure 

 them ; when they are taken out they are immediately placed 

 in the position in which it is wished to preserve them, and they 



