PRESERVATION OF INSECTS. 283 



may be placed loosely in a box carried for the purpose. The 

 specimens can thus be taken out at leisure,, killed by applying 

 a camel's-hair pencil dipped in ether, chloroform, or ben- 

 zine to the under side of the body, and then spread on the 

 setting-board. In most species the colors change after 

 death, hence it is important to make short descriptions of 

 the colors before killing the specimens." The smaller, more 

 slender, and delicate Neuroptera should be pinned directly 

 in the collecting-box. Many -species are caught by a light 

 in the night-time, such as Poh/xt 'oecliotes nebulosus and the 

 caddis-flies (Neuronia semifasciata, etc.) ; and a bright 

 light placed in damp situations by streams, etc. , will attract 

 large numbers, the smaller species, like moths, being at- 

 tracted a great distance by light. Other species of this 

 group, so numerous in the Northern States, are found in 

 great numbers floating on lakes and ponds. For the proper 

 study of the genera of these insects, and often of the 

 species, they should be collected in alcohol, so as to be 

 studied in a flexible state. 



The aquatic larva? and pupae can be reared in aquaria in 

 jars and tumblers, taking care that the weaker species are 

 separated from those more powerful and bloodthirsty. The 

 little Entomostraca, or water-fleas, serve as food for the 

 smaller species. With care many species can be reared in 

 this way; and so little is known of their transformations 

 that figures and descriptions would be of great value. The 

 interesting and varied habits of the different families can 

 also easily be noted. 



Preparation of May -flies (Ephemerae). The wings of dried 

 specimens, says Eev. A. E. Eaton, in his monograph of the 

 group (page 326), in some of the genera are apt to be com- 

 pletely shrivelled up. When such is the case, recourse 

 may be had to the following method of preparing them for 

 examination: The wing detached from the specimen is 

 first of all floated upon scalding water, and induced to 

 expand as fully as possible whilst it is floating. It is next 



