APPENDIX A. 



METHODS OF COLLECTING, MOUNTING AND STUDYING ANTS. 



Most of the methods of collecting and preserving ants, both in the 

 entomological cabinet and as living objects in artificial nests, are so 

 simple that they would be devised by almost anyone who undertakes 

 a serious study of these insects. Nevertheless it may save some of my 

 readers, who may wish to study ants, considerable time and experi- 

 mentation if I give a condensed account of the methods I have found 

 to be most useful. 



The collecting outfit (Figs. 280 and 281 ), which may be readily car- 

 ried in a large pocket, or in a small bag such as hunters use for ammu- 

 nition, consists of the following: a small but very strong trowel, or a 





FIG. 280. Outfit for collecting ants. 



short, broad chisel, for digging into the nests, a pair of tweezers with 

 rounded, flat and smooth, /. e., not transversely ridged points, for pick- 

 ing up the insects, a number of homoeopathic or shell vials of strong 

 glass, three quarters full of commercial alcohol (about 95 per cent.) 1 

 for preserving the specimens, some absorbent cotten, blank labels, a 

 large handkerchief or napkin, and some small bags made of strong 



1 Wood alcohol, denatured alcohol or even strong whiskey may be used as a 

 preservative if commercial alcohol cannot be obtained. Formaline should be 

 avoided as it makes the specimens very rigid and refractory and has other dis- 

 agreeable qualities. 



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