S-1141001_COMPLETO.pdf

APHORISMATA ENTOMOLOGICA. 17
greater or lesser length, on the so-difficult-to-be-decided question, what
is the amount of feeling that insects possess? Into these I shall not
now enter, but shall content myself with enunciating the maxim which
Ipromulged in the "Zoologist," page 1680, namely, "With regard to
the feeling of insects, as much has been said, and much may be said,
on both sides, I would only beg to add that I think there can be no
doubt that, whatever opinion any may form or may have formed on
the subject, it will be the best and safest way for all to act on the
supposition that they have some, if not a very high degree of feelin«-
and accordingly to make it an unfailing rule to kill them as instantaneously
as possible." To this I still adhere, as will, I hope, all my "gentle"
readers likewise; and I have it in my power to make known a simple
and efficacious mode of killing lepidopterous—and I doubt not any
other insects—if not instantaneously, yet almost so, and certainly, at
all events, without any sensation of pain whatever. It is not indeed
my own discovery—'nee meus hie sermo est,' but that of a gentleman,
Charles Barron, Esq., who has published the first account of the method
that I am aware of, in the "Zoologist," page 3435, dating from the
Eoyal Naval Hospital, Haslar, March the 3rd., 1852. His plan, however,
is rather a complicated one, and the following improvement upon it
will be found well Avorthy of your especial attention. The agent to be
employed is the Avell known—though only recently in this application
of it—Chloroform!
Go to a druggist's, and purchase a strong, wide-mouthed, moderate-
sized glass bottle, namely, large enough to hold a large moth or
butterfly. It should be of one width all the Avay up, for the reason
to be presently mentioned, and should have a glass stopper, so as to
make it air-tight, or as nearly so as possible. Fill the bottom' of this
bottle with sponge, and over the sponge place a piece of perforated
zinc, which you will now see you could not do unless the bottle was
of a uniform width. The use of the zinc is to keep the wings of the
insect from touching the sponge, for it "will soon absorb the liquid
residuum of the drug, and so might and would wet and injure the wings.
When you are going out collecting, or if at home you want to kill
any insects that you may have reared or otherwise obtained, pour a
few drops of chloroform into the bottle, which will make its Avay
to the sponge through the perforated zinc, and immediately "put the
stopper upon it." Take it off when you want to put an insect into the
bottle, and then, putting it on again, in a few seconds at the most