258 
Mr. Hepworth first destroys life by sulphuric ether, then 
washes the insects thoroughly in two or three waters in a 
wide neeked bottle ; he afterwards immerses them in caustic 
potash or Brandish’s solution, and allows them to remain from 
one day to several weeks or months according to the opacity 
of ?he insect ; with a camel-hair pencil in each hand, he then 
in a saucer of clean water presses out the contents of the 
abdomen and other soft parts dissolved by the potash, holding 
the head and thorax with one brush, and gently pressing the 
other with a rolling motion from the head to the extremities 
to expel the softened matter: a stroking motion would be 
liable to separate the head from the body. The Author 
suggests a small pith or cork roller for this purpose. The 
potash must afterwards be completely w^ashed away, or 
crystals may form. The insects must then be dried, the 
more delicate specimens being spread out or floated on to 
glass slides, covered with thin glass and tied down with 
thread. When dry they must be immersed in rectified spirits 
of turpentine, placed under the exhausted receiver of an air 
pump. When sufficiently saturated they will be ready for 
mounting in Canada balsam, but they may be retained for 
months in the turpentine without injury. Before mounting, 
as much turpentine must be drained and cleaned ofif the slide 
as possible, but the thin glass must not be removed, or air 
would be re-admitted. Balsam thinned with chloroform is 
then to be dropped on the slide so as to touch the cover, and 
it will be drawn under by capillary attraction. After pressing 
down the cover, the slide may be left to dry and to be finished 
off. If quicker drying be required, the slide may be w’armed 
over a spirit lamp, but not made too hot, as boiling 
disarranges the object. Vapours of turpentine or chloroform 
may cause a few bubbles, which will subside when condensed 
by cooling. 
Various specimens, beautifully mounted by this process by 
Mr. Hepworth, were exhibited. 
