HIKTS TO INSECT COLLECTORS. 129 



and these insects do not begin to fly till after dusk. Many moths, however, 

 fly by day, and it is well to beat brushwood and hedges in summer. 

 Many beautiful insects are found reposing on the north side of trees and 

 palings, rocks and buildings, and even amongst stones. As a general rule 

 insects abound during bright warm weather, and are particularly active 

 before a thunder-storm. Other insects than these two orders will be found 

 in their season, where there are flowers and sunshine. 



Caterpillars should be placed in a tin collecting box, with air-holes, or 

 a pasteboard box much pierced with red-hot wires, partially filled with 

 fine moss, and a leaf of the plant should be taken as a specimen of its 

 natural food. A sprig of the plant is stuck into a vessel containing moist 

 sand, and over that a glass funnel or cylinder covered with gauze on the 

 upper end. This apparatus is kept out of doors, and if the food is regu- 

 larly supplied and kept fresh, many fine specimens will be reared. 



Chrysalides of moths are found in greatest abundance at the foot of the 

 alder, willow, oak, elm, and ash; at a hand's breadth from the stem insert 

 a trowel or large pocket-knife to the depth of two inches, and push up- 

 wards. Transport the chrysalides in a box amongst moss. At home they 

 should be placed in a rough deal box covered with gauze above; in the 

 bottom a quantity of black earth from a hollow tree slightly moistened, 

 and kept moist by a layer of moss: keep the box out of the sun. 



Kill the beetles by immersing the collecting bottles or quills, very cau- 

 tiously at first, in boiling water for a few minutes; even those which are 

 apparently dead in the spirit bottle ought always to have 'a hot bath. 

 Kill bees and moths by slightly raising the lids of the pill-boxes; cover 

 a pile of boxes with a tumbler, a basin, or bell-glass; put a pinch of pow- 

 dered sulphur on a flat piece of stick, light it, and put it under the vessel; in 

 an hour repeat the operation, and in eight hours afterwards commence setting. 



Beetles which are too small for piercing should be placed on a card 

 rubbed with gum tragacanth, and their various members extended with a 

 needle; when dry, cut the card in a neat square fashion, and mount it 

 on a pin placed behind the insect. Dragon-flies, and some of the largest 

 sphinx moths, should be opened below and the bowels extracted, (a little 

 chalk powder will absorb the moisture,) and then stuffed with rolls of 

 paper or cotton; these insects are best killed by holding their wings between 

 the fingers, and dipping the bodies into boiling water. A red-hot needle, 

 or one dipped in oxalic acid, (poisonous and corroding) thrust lengthwise 

 into the body, is sometimes very useful. Steam, and blotting-paper steeped 

 in chloroform are also deadly to many insects. 



Any thin solid-headed pin which is strong enough to transfix, and long 

 enough to hold the specimen, and to fix it firmly into the cork, is suitable 

 for the poor student's purse and purpose. A lucifer match with a needle 



VOL. \^. . s 



