VADIi MUCUM. 29 



1111(1 if tlioy can lie had, it is desirable to liavo two siiocimoiis 

 of cacli, for the purpose of exliibiting liotli the upper and 

 under side. 



To riiESKnvB CATEttPiLLAiis. The animal must first be 

 killed by immersion in spirits of wine, the contents of the 

 body must then be emptied by the gradual pressure of the 

 finger and thuiiil), beginning at the liead, and pressing on to 

 the anus ; at which part a small aperture should be jiro- 

 viously made. When the skin is cleared, a piece of hay or 

 slender straw must be introduced into the anus, round which 

 and near to the extremity, a fine thread must be loosely 

 passed, the tube is then to be blowu through, and when the 

 skin is fiiUy inflated, withdrawn, at the same time the thread 

 must be pulled tight and secured by a knot. The Caterpillar 

 will now exhibit its proper shape and colours ; to retain 

 which, all that is necessary is to hold it near the fire until 

 perfectly dry, which will be in a few minutes. Another 

 method is, when the contents of the body are removed as 

 above, to fill the skin with very fine dry sand ; by this means 

 the insect is brought to its natural shape ; in a few hours 

 the skin will dry, and the sand may be shaken out. Cater- 

 pillars, tlius jirepared, may be either pierced with a pin, or 

 gummed on a strip of card. They may also lie preserved 

 without any fiirther preparation by merely suspending them 

 irom a cork in a phial, filled with spirits of wine. The phial 

 should be close stopped, and the cork dipped in wax. Wlien 

 Caterpillars, either fi-om their rarity or otherwise, cannot be 

 preserved, a coloured drawing .should always be made of 

 thein, when come to their iiill size. 



CHRYs.vLinEs should be carefiiUy put into a box, carried 

 for the purpose, havuig damp earth placed at the bottom ; 

 care being taken to move them as little as possible. They 

 sliould afterwards be jilaced in a breeding cage or gai-deu 



