110 
THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
who, like Messrs. Slaiiiton and Douglas, 
perceived the defect of the English 
method of preparation, said to me 
that he had now a large collection so 
prepared, and could not change the whole 
of the insects; and seeing his cases are 
too shallow for long pins, he could not 
add any new specimens on such pins. It 
is true every coinmeucemeul is difficult, 
but it must be taken up with energy. 
The younger collectors, who, in this as 
in all other things in the world, must 
begin the reformation, will especially see 
clearly in this case the great advantages 
of it. I shall have the greatest pleasure 
in assisting, both by word and deed, all 
those who may adopt the plan, as per- 
haps some will. 
Dk. 0. Staudinger. 
Berlin, 
Linienslrasse, 23. 
VERY CURIOUS, VERY! 
Xo the Editor of the * Intelliyencei\* 
Sir, — I have just witnessed a very 
interesting phase in the physiological 
development of the common Aphis or 
green lly, which, I think, has not been 
before recorded. 'I'he parent insect was 
just completing her accouchement at the 
time 1 lirst observed her ; the “ little 
stranger” was a colourless, transparent, 
perlect insect, without wings, and became 
a lively, independent member of the 
community under my personal inspec- 
tion ; it could scarcely have become con- 
scious of its whereabout before it was 
seizetl by its apparently unnatural and 
cold-blooded parent, and positively beaten 
to death. This extraordinary leat was 
scarcely accomjilished ere I observed 
two cream-coloured, obkmg, saddle-bag- 
shaped protuberances make their appear- 
ance, one on each side of the old “ hag,” 
and, while carelully examining them, I 
was beyond measure surprised to iiud 
that these opaque and whitish substances 
were rapidly enlarging themselves, and, 
in less than five minutes, had grown the 
full length of the insect’s body : it then 
struck me they must be its wings. I 
called the attention of a friend to the 
process, who at once detected the fact, 
and exclaimed, “ Why, I can positively 
see them enlarging and growing !” They 
were still cream-coloured and opaque, but 
became pointed and divided at the ends; 
about an hour afterwards the wings were 
perfect, transparent and black ; the insect 
had also become black, except a belt, 
occupying about one-third of its body, 
which was still green. I confined it 
under a glass with a leaf, from which it 
appeared desirous of escaping, as it always 
approached the edge of the glass when 
pul on the leaf. 
I afterwards found great numbers of 
dead young ones of the same species on 
my chimney-piece, where I first observed 
the one in question, and a number of 
perfect Hies upon the window ; they came 
from the conservatory, on some chrysan- 
themums, which were placed in a flower- 
vase. S. W. S. 
[Has not our observant correspondent 
mistaken the feat of moulting lor that of 
parturition ? and was not the supposed 
“little stranger” the caat-skiu of the 
“ old hag”?] 
ATTITUDES OF INSECTS. 
To the Editor of the * Intelligencer ' 
Sir, — On reading your remarks upon 
entomologists following one method in 
arranging their insects, “ like a Hock of 
sheep,”.^without considering whether im- 
provements may not be made, 1 have fell 
emboldened to throw out an idea that 
has often struck me. 
1 consider the present mode of setting 
and displaying insects, especially Lepi- 
