MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 665 



opened along the under side of the abdomen, the 

 viscera must be removed, and the cavity filled with 

 cotton. 



Neuroptera and Stegoptera should be set up at 

 once and dried, the wings being kept in that posi- 

 tion which is natural to the species when at rest ; 

 the pin being inserted through the thorax. They 

 are most easily killed by chloroform. Some may be 

 better preserved in small glass tubes. 



Hymenoptera are preferably to be pinned through 

 the thorax, and set at once with the wings ex- 

 panded ; small species must be put on card. Chloro- 

 form is the best mode of killing these insects, and 

 when dead they should be removed from the col- 

 lecting-bottle, and put into a dry box, otherwise the 

 soft hairy covering of some species becomes much 

 disfigured by moisture. 



Lepidoptera. — The delicacy and beauty of this 

 Order demand that the utmost care should be taken 

 in preserving the specimens, as the slightest touch 

 is sufficient to remove some of the scales which 

 cover the wings, and at every such loss some colours 

 disappear; it is, therefore, necessary that some 

 speedy method of killing them should be adopted, 

 and the best and most effectual agent for Moths is 

 chloroform, as it immediately stupifies them, prevents 

 their fluttering, and quickly terminates their exist- 

 ence ; Butterflies can be instantaneously killed by 

 compressing the thorax. Specimens should be put 

 out at once by being transfixed through the thorax, 

 the wings being expanded and kept in that position 



