42 



STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



rare and desirable specimens. The skill of a collector may be gauged by the 

 number of minute species in his collections. Untrained eyes will detect the 



Figure 4. 



macro insects, not so the micro. To pick up very small species, a pair of small 

 steel forceps are necessary. Fig. 2, and quills with close-fitting wooden stopples, 

 are s^ood temporary receptacles for these Liliputs among insects. To kill such 

 insects we have but to put the quills containing them into a cyanide bottle for 

 a brief period. 



At all seasons, and especially in autumn, many rare and beautiful insects, 

 mostly bugs and beetles, crawl for protection and concealment, under leaves, 

 chips and other fine rubbish. To preserve such specimens, the collector needs 

 a cloth bas: with a bottom made of wire cloth with one- 



... 



quarter inch meshes. This sieve, which serves for the 

 bottom of the bag, should have a strong wire for its cir- 

 cumference. The bag, Fig. 3, I use is about one foot 

 deep, while the bottom is nearly one foot in diameter. To 

 use this we have but to put in the leaves, etc., and then 

 vigorously to shake the bag above a white cloth when the' 

 insects will fall through the sieve on the white surface, 

 and can be easily seen and secured. If the white cloth is 

 rubber, it will be well to have it large enough to kneel upon 

 while shakins: out the insects, which conserves the strensfth 

 of tiie collector, and in damp places the health as well. ^^' ' 



The collector will find a large umbrella a very essential auxiliary to his col- 

 lecting outfit. It will form a grateful shade on hot days, and maybe used with 

 wondrous success in collecting beetles and caterpillars. Many larvce mimic 

 the leaves and branches on which they rest so perfectly, that unless shaken off 



they will escape even the most skilled observer. To use 

 the umbrella we hold it open, but inverted beneath the 

 tree or branch, then giving the latter a sharp jar, a la 

 curculio-catching, when often we will find a catch which 

 Avill incite our highest enthusiasm, so numerous, varied 

 and interesting will be the shower of insects. Last, but 

 very important, are the nets which the insect collector 

 will bring to his aid. To make a net procure at a hard- 

 ware store a piece of the largest-sized wire. Fig. 4, three 

 feet long. Get the blacksmith to bend this, with the ex- 

 ception of four inches at each end, into a circular form. 

 The ends must now be bent at right angles to the circle, 

 Fig. 5, Avelded together and shardetied. A cane or broom- 

 stick, with a hole in one end to receive the sharpened end 

 of the wire. Fig. 6, forms an efficient handle. We thus 

 ^^°' ^' have a good frame-work for our net. If our net, Fig. 7, 



is to be used in capturing moths and butterflies, the bag which is to be attached 

 to the wire-circle may be made of mosquito netting, or better, of Swiss muslin, 

 and, to secure more strength, a strip of strong factory should be bound about 

 the netting where it encircles the wire ring, and be sewed on strongly with it. 

 The bag may be two feet deep. For dredging, the bag should be shallow, not 



