On Woodcut because it is never found except on the bat. the Bat-Louse,

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name, thougli, is quite as inappropriate as that of the Wood- Louse, both words signifying creatures which belong to different classes in the animal kingdom. Its colour is ochreous and shining. The hinder part of the thorax is deeply waved, and it is punctured beneath, with a channel down the centre. The abdomen is ochreous brown, and the legs are covered with hair, the tibifB being very broad and flat. It is plentiful on the common Bat ( Vespertilio murinua), so that there is no difficulty in procuring this curious insect. If a hat he killed, and taken into the hand, the Nycterihiae immediately crawl from beneath the hairs of the dead animal, and crowd upon the hand of the holder. As long as the animal is alive they remain upon it, hut no sooner is the life extinct than the Nycterihi^ desert it, and fasten upon the first living being that they can find, just as has been related of the Bird Flies. In some mysterious manner they know at once that the life, which constitutes their home, has fled, and they at once desert the empty tenement.

Our task is now ended, and all that remains is to see how to prepare — or ‘ set,’ as is the technical term — insects which are taken as specimens for the cabinet. On Fig. 1 of the accompanying illustration, the little black dot shows the spot at which the pin ought to be inserted in all Beetles that are more than a quarter of an inch in length. Even those of smaller size can he thus treated, provided that the entomologist use one of the fine pins which are employed for this special purpose, and can he obtained at any of the naturalists’ shops.

The best pins are gilt, so as to prevent them from producing that abominable green verdigris which is almost invariably to be found springing from the spot where the pin pierces the insect, and which so often covers and spoils the insect itself. Beetles of smaller size should be set on little strips of white card-board, some transparent cement being used for the purpose. In this case, one specimen at least should he set on its back, so as to show the under side, on which the entomologist often finds the principal distinguishing characteristics. The same rule applies to Earwigs, Grrasshoppers, and their kin. It is always as well to set one specimen with spread wings, when those organs are present.

Fig. 2 shows the place of the pin in Butterflies, Moths, Bees, Flies, Dragon-flies, and their kin, and indeed in all insects where the wings are spread. Fig. 4 shows the manner in which the card braces are used for the purpose of fixing the wings, and Fig. 3 shows a section of the ‘ setting-board,’ the upper part being made of cork.

Lxxix

Such a board, however, is rather a luxury than a necessity. Cutting a groove in cork is a very difficult business, and can scarcely be done by any except a professional cork-cutter, instruments are specially made for the purpose, are as whose as razors, and are sharpened after every cut that is keen-edged with them. I have found, for my part, that it is quite made two strips of cork side by side on a piece of sufficient to fasten between them a space just sufficient for the soft wood, leaving body of the insect.

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While the process of drying is going on — a process that takes from one to five weeks, according to the size of the insect

the hoards must he protected from dust and the attacks of other insects. I have always employed a ‘ setting-box,’ which can be made by any lad with the least notion of carpentering. Take any conveniently sized box, with a closely fitting lid, cut a large square piece out of the lid, another out of the bottom of the box, and supply their place with wire gauze. Turn the box on its side, so that the lid opens like a door, and nail strips of wood on either end, so that a number of setting boards can be placed on them, like shelves in a book-case. Leave two inches clear space between the boards. Such a box is particularly useful, as it can be shifted from place to place at the will of the owner, and can be arranged in any spot where there is a draught of dry air.

Care must be taken not to dry insects too rapidly, as the wings generally warp and the body shrinks. Provided that a current of dry air be kept up, the process of drying cannot be too long, and above all things the young entomologist should avoid the fire. It is very tempting to dry an insect by the aid of the fire in half the time that would be occupied by the ordinary process, but such temptations must be strenuously resisted if the collector wishes to have specimens worthy of his cabinet.

If an insect be badly set, it can easily be relaxed by a very simple process. Bury in the ground a good sized flower- pot, and get a flat stone that will perfectly cover it. Pin the insect on a piece of cork, put it into the flower-pot, cover it over completely, and in two or three days the wings and legs will be relaxed, and can be reset as easily as if the creature were recently killed. In the British Museum there is a neat contrivance on the same principle. In shallow earthen vessels with tightly fitting covers a layer of sand is placed. The sand • is kept damp, and when insects have to be relaxed, they are simply placed in the pan, which is then covered and put aside until the dried limbs are sufficiently moistened.

I am often asked to give hints as to the proper construction of a cabinet, and my reply is, that, unless the entomologist has plenty of money, he had better not have a cabinet at all. A good cabinet is a very expensive affair, and to procure one

cheaply is out of the question. A guinea per drawer is the invariable price of a cabinet, and it is impossible to buy one for less than that sum. Now, as the British Beetles alone will occupy from twenty-five to thirty drawers, and the British Moths at least the same number, it is evident that if the collector desires to put up all his insects in cabinets, he will not see much change out of a hundred pounds.

It is useless even to look out for second-hand cabinets, for . they cost quite as much as if they were new ; and, indeed, any practical entomologist would much rather buy an old cabinet than a new one, because he would be sm'e that no part of it would warp. There are very few joiners who know how to make an entomological cabinet, and of these few it is almost impossible to find one who will not use unseasoned wood in those places where he thinks it will not be seen.

I strongly recommend the young entomologist not to trouble himself about cabinets, but to purchase some ordinary entomologic boxes, the cost of which is comparatively trifling, and which are just as efficacious as cabinets in the preservation of insects. It is as well to label them on the back, so that a glance will tell the owner which box he will need, when he comes to put another insect in it. The two first boxes in my own collection are thus labelled : —

Coleoptera Coleoptera

Cicindela . . . Amara. Amara . . . Ht6R0Tus.

The best mode of arranging the insects in the drawers or boxes appears to a novice to be a waste of time and space, and to be considerably disheartening to boot. Complete lists, which can be purchased at the professional naturalists, should be obtained, cut up, and pinned or otherwise fastened to the floor *of the boxes in regular rows, a space being left between the names for the insertion of the insects when they are obtained. the spaces needed will depend very much on the Of course, insect, and the best plan is to leave room for four size of the rows of insects, two or three abreast, according to their size. the number of blanks is quite appalling, but aftei a At first, familiarised to them, and then each while the eye beeomes

blank becomes a sort of challenge, calling upon the collector to fill it up. Thus, a perpetual interest is taken in the collection, and the proprietor regards it with increasing pride, as year by year the blanks become filled up, and their places are taken by row upon row of well-set insects.

• SYSTEMATIC INDEX

• Sec. GEODEPHAGA

• I f

• S! i

• Order, COLEOPTERA.

• Gen. Anchomenus, 43

• Family, Cicindeliu.®, 14

• Genus, Cicihdela, 14

• Fam. FEEONHDiE, 44

• Species, — campestris, 15

• Gen. Pterostichus, 45

• — germanica, 17

• — maritima, 19

• Sp. — madidus, 45

• Gen. Broseus, 45

• Fam. Lebiad.®, 19

• Gen. Lebia, 20

• Sp. — cephalotes, 45

• Gen. Amara, 46

• Sp. — crux-minor, 20

• — cyanocepJiala, 21 lam. HAEPAEIDiE, 48

• — chlorocephala, 21

• Gen. Dromius, 21

• Sp. — quadrimaculatus,

• Sp. — emeus, 48

• 22

• Gen. Stenolophus, 49

• Gen. Tarus, 22

• Sp. — Skrimshiranus, 49

• Gen. A5pys, 49

• Sp. — axillaris, 22

• I Gen. Bracbinus, 23

• Sp. — marinus, 49

• Fam. Bemeidiid.®, 50

• I Sp. explodens, 23

• Gen. Cillenium, 50

• Fam. ScAEiTiD.®, 24

• • Gen. Clivina, 25

• Sp. — laterale, 50

• Gen. Bembidium, 50

• Sp. — fossor, 25

• Gen. Dyschirius, 30

• Sp. — bistriatum, 50

• ^ Fam. Caeabid.®, 31 i Gen. Carabus, 31

• I

• Sp. — monilis, 31

• — auratus, 32 i

• — cancellatus, 32

• *: — intricatus, 33

• I — violacms, 33

• ® Gen. Notiophilus, 34

• Fam. Dyticidje, 54

• X Sp. — biguttatus, 34

• Gen. Dyticus, 54

• Gen. Nebria, 35

• Sp. — marginalis, 54

• Sp. — brevicollis, 35

• Gen. Agabus, 60

• It Gen. Calosoma, 36

• Sp. — biguttatus, 60

• .t Sp. — sycophanta, 36

• Gen. Hydroporus, 60

• — inquisitor, 39

• 'j Gen. Cychrus, 40

• Sp. — duodecim-puncta-

• Sp. — rostratus, 40

• Gen. Haliplus, 61

• I. Fam. CHijENiiDJE, 41

• Sp. — variegatus, 61

• ■j Gen. Pogonus, 41

• Gen. Cnemidotus, 61

• •' Sp. — luridipennis, 41

• Gen. Pristonychus, 42

• Sp. — ccesus, 61

• Gen. Pelobius, 62

• •' ' Sp. — terricola, 42

• Sp. — Hermanni, 62

• ') Gen. Sphodrus, 42

• Fam. Gteinidje, 62

• Sp. — leueopthalmus, 42

• Gen. Calathus, 43

• Gen. Gyrinus, 63

• Sp. — cisteloides, 43

• Sp. — natator, 63

• Gen. Orectochilus, 65

• Sp. — dorsalis, 43

• Sp. — villosus, 65

• Sec. BBACHELYTBA

• Fam. AcEocHAEiDiE, 67

• — obsoleta, 46

• Gen. Falagria, 69

• Sp. — sulcata, 69

• Gen. Aleochara, 69

• Gen. Harpalus, 48

• Sp. —

• Gen. Atemeles, 70

• Sp. — emarginatus, 70

• Gen. Oxypoda, 70

• Sp. — luteipennis, 70

• Gen. Homalota, 71

• Sp. — brunnea, 7 1

• Gen. Gyrophsena, 71

• ®P* — gcntilis, 71

• Gen. Myrmedonia, 72 biguttatum, 51 lam. Tachypoeid.®, 73

• — fumigatum, 51

• Gen. Boletobins, 73

• — quadriguttatum,b\

• Sp. — atricapUlus, 73

• — pallidipcnne, 52

• Gen. Quedius, 74

• Sp. — dilatatus, 74

• Sec. BYLBADEPHAGA

• Fam. Stafhyxinidje, 75

• Gen. Creophilns, 76

• Sp. — maxillosus, 76

• Gen. Staphylinus, 76

• Sp. — casareus, 76

• Gen. Ocypus, 77

• Sp. — olens, 77

• Gen. Philontbus, 80 tus, 60

• Sp. — marginatus, 80

• Fam. XANTHOLiNrDiE, 80

• Gen. Xantholinus, 81

• Sp. — glabratus,^\

• Fam. P^EBEEIDiE, 81

• Gen. Stilicus, 81

• Sp. —fragilis, 81

• — bicolor, 64 fuscipes, 70

• — Haworthi, 72

• — brevis, 75

• — erythropterus, 77

• Sp. — qeniculatjis, 82

• — orbiculatus, 82

• Earn. Sthnidje, 83

• Gen. Stenus, 83

• Sp. — limaculatus, 83

• Earn. OMAniD.®, 83

• Gen. Mlcralymina, 84

• Sp. — 1/revipenne, 84

• Gen. Omalium, 84

• Sp. —

• Jlorale, 84

• Gen. Prognatha, 85

• Sp. — quadricomis, 85

• Sec. NEOROPHAGA

• Earn. SiLPHiDiE, 86

• Sub-fam. Silpliina, 86

• Gen. Necrophoms, 87

• Sp. — humator, 90

• — vespUlo, 90

• Gen. Necrodes, 92

• Sp. — littoralis, 92

• Gen. Silpha, 93

• Sp. — thoraoioa, 93

• Sub-fam. Cholevina, 94

• Gen. Choleva, 95

• Sp. — angustata, 95

• Earn. SCYDMJEKIDiE, 95