264 KILLING OF INSECTS. 
Christmas* to a degree that I never remember; and 
children were afflicted with measles almost universally. 
Early in January a violent wind was succeeded by a 
severe frost, and in some places by a deep snow; but, 
after about ten days’ duration, a very gentle thaw re- 
moved all this, and the remainder of our winter was 
mild and agreeable, introducing what might be called 
an early spring, dry and propitious for every agricultural 
purpose. The trees that refoliaged so vigorously in 
autumn seemed in no way weakened by this unusual 
exertion, but produced their accustomed proportion of 
leaves, and the sprays of every bush and tree, ripened 
and matured by the last summer’s sun, displayed a pro- 
fusion, an accumulation of blossom, that gave the fairest 
promise of abundance of fruit, and every product of the 
earth. 
That the death of any creature should be required 
by the naturalist, to perfect his examination, or arrange 
it in his collection, (and without a collection the inves- 
tigation of any branch of natural history can be but 
partially undertaken), may be regretted ; but still the 
epithet of “cruel employ” must not be attached to this 
pursuit. We do not destroy in wantonness, or unneces- 
sarily ; and that life, of which it is expedient to deprive 
a creature, is taken by the most speedy, and in the least 
painful manner known. Some of our methods, if speedy, 
are at the same time injurious, such as hot water, the 
stifling-box, &c. ; and some, that are not painful, sucb 
as stupefaction by spirits, ether, &c., and suffocation 
by carbonate of ammonia, are occasionally not effectual. 
But there is one process, which I believe to be neither 
painful nor injurious, yet decisive, and communicative 
with pleasure; I mean the prussic acid. This fluid 
may be imbibed by the insect without producing any 
particular effect ; but, if brought to act upon the spinal 
cord, or what at least is analogous to that part of a ver- 
tebrate animal, whatever it may be called, and which 
seems to be the most vital part of the creation, instant 
