86 
HINTS TO YOUNG ENTOMOLOGISTS. 
which are numbered. A book is kept numbered to correspond with the 
boxes, and in which is entered the history of the insect from the day it is 
placed in the box. A little water is placed in each partition of the wooden 
trough, which serves to keep the food moist, as also the earth which is put 
into the tin boxes, that the caterpillar may undergo its metamorphosis in 
the most natural manner. Pupae lay as deep as twelve or thirteen inches 
in the earth. If the boxes be sunk into a bed of earth or a Cucumber frame, 
the heat and moisture may accelerate the change. I had S. ocellata bred 
very early in this manner. 
After a flood examine the rejectamenta. Mr. Skrimshire took several insects 
by carrying home two wheel-barrows full and putting their contents into a 
large washing-tub ; amongst others some very rare, as Apkodius plagiatus, 
S. quadridens , &c. The north sides of mountains, or thick, short Moss, are 
the best localities. 
31. Mr. Kirby’s Plan of hilling Insects. —Fix in a small tin saucepan, filled 
with boiling water, a tin tube consisting of two pieces that fit into each 
other; cover the mouth of the lower one with a piece of gauze or canvas, 
and place your insect upon it; then fix the upper one over it, and cover also 
the mouth of this with gauze; and the steam from the boiling water will 
effectually kill your insects.—Captain Blomer applies the insect to the 
steam from the spout of a Tea-kettle. 
32. A large Pump of Ammonia put into a tin box will quickly kill any Lepi- 
dopterous insect [[including the Moth and Butterfly families, &c. —Ed.] if 
the box shuts close. A piece of paper should be put between the insect and 
the ammonia. Put no pin in or it will corrode. The pins used for setting 
should be longer than the others. 
33. Mr. Denny, of Cambridge, has a piece of cork with grooves for the body 
and legs of Moths, and the wings are then set by braces, &c. Introduce a 
stalk of hay or a horse-hair into the abdomens of hibellulce [Dragon-flies.— 
Ed.], or draw a piece of coarse cotton through with a needle two or three 
times till quite clean. Then cut it off at both ends. 
A glass tube may be used in killing insects, putting the sharp end into the 
thorax, and blowing therein some spirits of wine. 
See the Magazine of Natural History , Vol. IV., pp. 145, 436, and Vol. VI., 
p. 155. 
Rev. Mr. hockey s Plan of taking Insects. —Finally, to revert once more to 
the capturing of insects, I may observe, that Mr. Lockey has a double 
casement for taking insects by the lamp, so that even in cold weather he may 
sit up late at night, and when a Moth comes against the window, by touch- 
