194 INTERNAL ANATOMY OF INSECTS. 
Before concluding these remarks on the Internal Ana~ 
tomy and Physiology of Insects, I shall explain to you, 
as you will probably feel inclined occasionally to pursue 
“the subject, the best mode of dissecting them.—By far 
the most useful dissecting instruments for this purpose 
are very fine-pointed and sharp scissors, as these will en- 
able you to divide the integument and separate other 
parts with much less risk of injuring their delicate struc- 
ture than any knife. These scissors are what Swam- 
merdam chiefly used; and he had some so extremely 
small and fine, that he was necessitated to employ a lens 
when he sharpened them. If to these be added a sharp 
and fine-pointed knzfe or two, some needles fixed in han- 
dles, also fine-pointed—(you will find them more conve- 
nient than any other instrument for detaching minute 
parts and fibres,) a pair of fine and accurately adjusted 
pliers, and an assortment of camel’s-hair brushes,—you 
will be nearly set up as an Entomological dissector. You 
will still, however, require a small dissecting table, with 
a projecting and moveable arm for lenses of various de- 
scriptions, so as to admit both the hands to be employed 
upon the subject under examination; and for this pur- 
pose probably no contrivance can be better adapted than 
that of Lyonnet, of which the figure in Adams On the 
‘Microscope will convey a better idea than any descrip- 
tion?. 
Previously to dissecting any insect, it must be killed 
by plunging it into boiling water, which is recommended 
by Lyonnet, or spirits of wine or of turpentine; and it is 
often useful to let Jarve remain a few days in the latter, 
Avene at 
