DERMESTES. 11 



provided with two antennae, and very hard and 

 cutting mandibles. The legs are six in number, 

 each terminated by a nail ; the end of the body 

 is remarkable for a tuft of very long hair. 



As it must be desirable to find a certain re- 

 medy against such a persevering little pest as 

 the Dermestes, it will not be improper to give the 

 following receipt which Olivier found to be suf- 

 ficiently efficacious, viz. Quick lime, half an 

 ounce; salt of tartar, one dram and a half; cam- 

 phor, five drams ; white soap, four ounces ; ar- 

 senic, four ounces. Dissolve the camphor in a 

 sufficient quantity of spirit of wine, add the ar- 

 senic, the salt of tartar, and the quick lime, beat 

 them together with the soap, and preserve the 

 composition in a pot for use. Olivier was pre- 

 sent, with several other Naturalists, at the trial 

 of this receipt. Of several birds enclosed in a 

 box, some were subjected to this preservation. 

 At the end of a year the same persons examined 

 the effect, and found that where the remedy had 

 been used the birds were whole and perfect^ 

 while the others were reduced to powder. 



