INTRODUCTORY. 



There is a constant demand, especially from correspondents of the 

 Museum and also of the Department of Agriculture, for information as 

 to how to collect, preserve, and mount insects. 'lu ' ' i::, also great need 

 of some simple directions on a great many other points connected with 

 the proper packing of insects for transmission through the mails or 

 otherwise ; labeling ; methods of rearing ; boxes and cabinets ; text-books, 

 etc. Interest in the subject of entomology has, in fact, made rapid growth 

 in the last few years, and now that nearly every State has an official 

 entomologist connected with its State Agricultural Experiment Station, 

 the number of persons interested in the subject may be expected to 

 increase largely in the near future. I have hitherto made use of the 

 Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Xo. 201, which is a pamphlet on 

 collecting and preserving insects prepared by Dr. A. S. Packard. This 

 is out of print, and I have been requested by Prof. Goode to prepare 

 for Bulletin 39, U. S. N. M., something that would cover the whole 

 ground and give the more essential information needed for collectors 

 and students of insect life. I have deemed it unnecessary to go too 

 much into detail, but have studied not to omit anything essential. Cus- 

 toms and methods vary in different countries and with different indi- 

 viduals, but the recommendations contained in the following pages are 

 based upon my own experience and that of my assistants and many 

 acquaintances, and embrace the methods which the large majority of 

 American entomologists have found most satisfactory. 



Much of the matter is repeated bodily from the directions for collect- 

 ing and preserving insects published in my Fifth Report on the Insects 

 of Missouri (187U) and quotations not otherwise credited are from that 

 Beport. The illustrations, also, when not otherwise credited or not 

 originally made for this paper, are from my previous writings. Some 

 are taken from Dr. Packard's pamphlet, already mentioned ; others, with 

 the permission of Assistant Secretary Willits, from the publications of 

 the Department of Agriculture, while a number have been especially 

 made for the occasion, either from photographs, or from drawings by 

 Miss L. Sullivan or Dr. Geo. Marx or Mr. C. L. Marlatt. When 

 enlarged, the natural size is indicated in hair-line. In the preparation 

 of the pamphlet 1 have had the assistance of Mr. E. A. Schwarz, and 

 more particularly of Mr. C. L. Marlatt, to both of whom I desire here to 

 express my obligations. 



C. V. B. 

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