INSTRUCTIONS FOR 
4 
Killing. 
Most insects can be easily killed by putting them into the cyanide- 
bottle ; but care must be taken to see that the sides of the bottle and 
surface of the cyanide are not wet, as the more delicate insects are 
apt to stick to the surface and get spoiled. To prevent this when 
collecting Coleoptera and Hemiptera, the upper space may be partly 
filled with crumpled pieces of blotting-paper, among which the insects 
may bury themselves. This also prevents them rolling about and in- 
juring one another. Under no circumstances should the specimens be 
left in the cyanide a moment longer than necessary. Cyanide changes 
the colour of some insects, green becoming yellow, yellow becoming red. 
Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, and other non-hairy insects 
may be killed by throwing them into boiling water ; but they must 
be taken out as quickly as possible, and placed on blotting-paper to 
drain off the water. 
Lepidoptera may be killed in the cyanide-bottle, and then pinned 
into the zinc collecting- box, where they can remain in a relaxed 
condition until it is convenient to set them. 
Butterflies may be killed by pinching the thorax laterally while 
the wings are in an upright position ; but although this is necessary 
sometimes, it requires to be done w T ith care, as it is apt to distort 
the body and render the specimens difficult to set. . 
Pinning and Mounting. 
Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, and 
Neuroptera should be pinned through 
the middle of the thorax. The position 
of the pin is indicated in the illustrations 
by a black dot. 
IIYMENOPTEKA, 
