TO NATUEALISTS AND OTHEES. 



As I am at present working at the Hemiptera of the world, I should be very 

 much obliged for specimens from any part. For the benefit of those who may 

 kindly wish to help, I give a few hints on the collection and preservation of this 

 neglected order of insects. Hemiptera (which include the various insects popu- 

 larly known as Plant-bugs, Tree- hoppers, Cicadas, Fireflies, Aphides, &c.,) 

 resemble in general appearance Beetles, but have more membranous upper wings 

 (or wing cases), and are usually of softer consistence, besides having their mouth 

 provided with a rostrum, or proboscis, instead of jaws. In size Hemiptera vary 

 from an inch or more to less than one line in length. In colour they are also 

 variable, some being exceedingly brilliant, others very obscurely coloured. They 

 inhabit trees, shrubs, and low plants ; some run about on the damp margins of 

 streams and lakes, some inhabit the surface of the water, and others swim in the 

 water or crawl on the mud below. A few live under the dead bark of trees, and 

 are usually flat and dull coloured. The best mode of catching those on trees and 

 shrubs is by shaking the branches over an inverted umbrella ; those that are 

 found on or under low plants (grass or other herbage) may be collected by sweep- 

 ing the herbage witha.net (which can easily be. made out of a ring — 12-18 inches 

 in diameter — of stout wire, attached to a stick, and having a bag of canvas sewn 

 on to it). They may also be found by searching on flowers and leaves. Those at 

 the margin of the water may be founcTby searching ; those on and in the water 

 by using a net similar to the sweeping one, but with canvass open enough to allow 

 the water, but not the insects, to pass through. Rather shallow, still water, 

 among weeds, or in open places among weeds, are the best situatidhs. Many 

 species fly into houses at night, attracted by the lights. In habits these insects 

 are variable : some move slowly, others run or fly with celerity, and others (tree- 

 hoppers, &c.,) jump with great activity. As many species closely resemble each 

 other, it is desirable that all specimens met with should be secured. It is also 

 desirable that small species as well as large ones should be collected, as it is 

 among the former that most undescribed forms may be expected. To kill and 

 preserve these insects all that is necessary is that on capture they are put in a 

 bottle filled with spirits of wine (rum, whisky, &c, will do). Care must be taken, 

 however, that the bottle is kept filled with fluid, otherwise the specimens will be 

 shaken about and broken. So in transit great care must be taken to guard against 

 the evaporation of the spirit. The bottles, if not filled to the top with specimens, 

 should have the empty space filled with crumpled pieces of paper, then filled with 

 spirit, and tightly corked— all the bottles may then be packed into a larger one, 

 or jar, also filled with alcohol, and tightly corked. 



In return for any specimens (few as well as many) kindly sent to me 1 shall be 

 happy (if wished) to return named specimens, or to give in return named British 

 Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, or Flowering plants ; or in certain cases 

 I shall be glad to buy specimens. 



Communications may be addressed to 



Dr. BUCHANAN WHITE, 



Perth, 



Scotland. 



