104 
THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
axis. Bulbs and corms, and the fleshy 
tuberous roots of orchids may also be sliced; 
some recommend scooping out the inside, 
but this is apt to make them break and 
spoil under pressure. Berries and stems 
that are not thick enough to slice may be 
repeatedly pricked on their under surface, 
or slashed with the point of a penknife, to 
let out the moisture. A very good plan 
with fleshy berries, and thick stems and 
roots, is to dry them, apart from the rest 
of the plant, by pressing them between 
several folds of porous paper, and baking 
the whole for three quarters of an hour in 
oven. But this does not always answer, 
and should not be tried with green leaves, 
as it is apt to turn them brown. In short, 
the more rapid the drying process the bet- 
ter; and hence the necessity of having re- 
course to these contrivances in order that 
the colors of the blossoms may not be in- 
jured through being kept damp by the 
slow drying of the thicker parts. — Science 
Gossip. 
. o • 
How to study Entomology. 
BY F. C. SMITH. 
III. 
Continued froin page 90. 
4 S far as possible the collector should 
secure duplicates of all larvae, thus 
enabling him to preserve for study the in- 
sect in the diff'erent stages of its transform- 
ation. The caterpillars may be preserved 
in alcohol or glycerine, using the two or 
four drachm vials found at any drug store. 
For future reference, it is well to describe 
in the record the form, size, color, and 
peculiar markings of the larva. This will 
be of great value when ready to name the 
collection. Text books are published con- 
taining the names and descriptions of 
known species, but it is quite as well to 
wait until the collection is well started, 
before spending much time hunting for the 
names. While at work collecting, mount- 
ing, exchanging and putting up specimens, 
the collector will familiarize himself with 
the different species, and when ready to 
classify, name and arrange his cabinet, will | 
consequently more readily recognize the j 
descriptions given in his text-books. 
Don't hesitate at all to inform your I 
friends of your doings, and in a short time | 
you will be surprised by receiving speci- , 
mens from every source. By corresponding 
with friends at a distance, you can obtain j 
many species common with them but rare ! 
with you. 
One of the most accessible and pleasing 
transformations to the young student is | 
that of the Papilio asterias. The larva of 
this butterfly is the common parsley or car- 
rot worm. The color is green, with bands 
of black and yellow across the back. The 
feet have black tips. It does not spin a 
cocoon, but suspends itself by silken threads 
to the cover of the box in which it is con- \ 
fined, and the change from the larva to the 
chrysalis takes place very rapidly. In two 
days from the time it was feeding, it will 
undergo an entire change, both of form ; 
and color. The chrysalis will measure one ij 
inch in length, and the butterfly, when 
hatched, four inches across the wings. In 
the fall of the year a great number of pupae 
may be collected, they being found in j 
nearly every conceivable situation, from the \ 
tops of trees to six inches underground, 
and some even under water. These, if [ 
cared for, will reward the collector the next 
spring with a variety of butterflies and 
moths that are perfect. There will be no 
torn or disfigured wings, as oftentimes is 
the case when taken with a net. 
Insects are divided into three parts — the | 
head, the thorax, and the abdomen or stom- | 
ach. The head is the first division of the I 
body, and is provided with eyes, mouth, j 
antennae or feelers, and often with a long 
tongue or probocis. The thorax consists of 
three segments joined together, and each 
segment holds one pair of legs. The wings 
are attached to the posterior segments. The < 
abdomen is always composed of nine seg- 
ments, and contains the stomach and 
breathing apparatus. ] 
All insects have six legs, never more or I 
less. The caterpillar, if examined closely, 
