termination to his labours and his hopes, he must have an abundant supply of camphor and spirits of turpentine, and must enclose his boxes in a tin case, so carefully fitted that the most minute insect will fail to find an entrance.

The entomologist visiting foreign countries cannot be too particular in recording the exact locality of each capture; and in reference to this important subject, the author begs to be allowed to quote the following excellent observations by Mr. Doubleday, from the 2nd volume of the 'Entomological Magazine.'

"Perhaps there is no branch of Entomology more worthy of attention than the geographical distribution of insects; yet this is totally disregarded by almost every entomologist. He who carefully excludes from his collection of British insects every doubtful species, arranges in his exotic cabinet species after species, genus after genus, without once thinking of indicating the part of the world whence they have been obtained; or, if he does note this, it is in so general a manner that little is to be learnt from it,—a line of one of six different colours, which serve to indicate Europe, Asia, New Holland, Africa, and North and South America, being thought abundantly sufficient.

"In Dejean's 'Catalogue des Coléoptères' we certainly find the native country of each species pointed out rather more clearly; but sometimes, even there, we are left to guess as to what part of a region, extending over 50° of latitude, and as many of longitude, and offering, at its two extremities, a difference of 30° Fahr. of temperature, is the principal station of an insect. Besides this deficiency in exactness, there is an omission of still more consequence: -no notice is taken of the range over which a species extends.

"From this want of care and accuracy in pointing out that country which is the principal station of a species, and

the extent of its range over other countries, arise difficulties which overwhelm us in our attempts to arrive at anything like a correct view of the geography of insects; and which, joined to our limited knowledge of extra-European species, forbid our speaking with confidence on any part of this subject. It has been well and truly observed with regard to plants, by an illustrious traveller [the Baron Humboldt], that it is impossible to enter fully into their geography, unless we are thoroughly acquainted with the distinctions, the characters and the names of each species.-'Ne tamen obliviscare, quemadmodum Physiologia animalium sine Anatome esse non potest, neque Geologia sine Oryctognosia, eodem modo te Geographiam Plantarum penitùs inspicere non posse, nisi Botanicæ innitens, singularum specierum notas, characteres, nomina accuratissimè dignoscas.'

Much has been written by entomologists on the subject of weather, but unless we are to imagine the collector totally devoid of sense, we shall scarcely suppose he will choose wet or windy days for the pursuit of insects on the wing. He will find it of much more importance to take a hint or two as to the time of day: early in the morning insects will be found in abundance on the foliage of trees, and they are then generally in a heavy or drowsy state, which allows of their being readily beaten into the clapnet: if the weather prove warm after 9 o'clock they will be actively running or flying, or perhaps settled on flowers; in either case the difficulty of capturing them is increased. Butterflies are on the wing from sunrise to noon, and from 2 o'clock till sunset; then they become drowsy and fly more languidly, settling repeatedly, and apparently seeking roosting-places for the night.

As to seasons for insects, little can be done in the way of laying down general rules. In Britain butterflies are abundant in May, August, and September; moths in

May, June, and October; caterpillars in May, June, and September: collectors often speak of the spring beating and autumnal beating for caterpillars. Entomologists will soon find that particular insects are attached to particular flowers who has not seen the honey-bee revelling on a bank of thyme? or the peacock butterfly perched on our commonest thistle, closing his beautiful wings, and exhibiting only their sable surface?

Camberwell Beauty Butterfly, with card braces, showing the mode in which a Butterfly should be set.

CHAPTER IV.

ALTHOUGH the author is fully satisfied that insects have not the acute sense of pain possessed by ourselves and warm-blooded animals, yet he wishes to impress on the collector of insects, that it is unjustifiable to subject any animal to even the possibility of suffering for our own gratification. Therefore let us resolve to adhere to two rules; first, to destroy no more specimens than are really requisite; secondly, to kill them in the most certain and expeditious manner: under any circumstances, the reflection that we have done this will be agreeable.

Butterflies and moths require to be pinned immediately on being taken; the pin is passed through the very centre

of the mesothorax,* or that part to which the wings are attached, the finger and thumb of the left hand, at the same time, pinching the insect under the wings. A slight pinch kills a butterfly, but it is far otherwise with a thick-bodied moth; these seem to possess an excess of vitality. There are several modes by which moths may be killed, but some of these are not at all times convenient; however, it will be best to give them all, and then the reader may avail himself of one or other, according to circumstances. First, take the moth by the wings, held together over its back, and then dip its body suddenly in boiling water; immediately on withdrawing it, it will be found that life and motion are completely extinct; but the downiness of the body will have received an injury which it never effectually recovers. Secondly, fix a piece of thin cork firmly at the bottom of a gallipot; then, having pinned the moth, as before described, through the mesothorax, stick the pin in the cork, and invert the gallipot in a basin of boiling water: the steam produces death almost instantly, and does not injure the plumage of the moth. Thirdly, having pinned the moth, take its body between the finger and thumb of the left hand, then withdraw the pin, and having previously prepared a sharp-pointed piece of quill or wood, dip it in prussic acid or a strong solution of oxalic acid, and introduce it into the aperture made by the pin; death follows almost instantly. A fourth mode of killing moths as well as other insects, has been recorded by Mr. Stephens, in the second volume of the 'Entomological Magazine;' it is as follows:-" take three or four juicy leaves (the younger the better, with, if a more powerful effect is required, a small portion of the tip of the stalk) of the common laurel; break or cut them into

*These anatomical terms will be fully explained in the following book, entitled 'Physiology of Insects.'