COLLECTING 



179 



preferably one with a long detachable handle. This may be 

 used both for sweeping submerged weed 

 beds for insects, and for scraping up the 

 bottom sand and mud and sifting them 

 out of it. 



It will be found advantageous in collect- 

 ing aquatic insects to dump the sifted 

 stuff from the net into a white-lined dish 

 of water, where the insects will at once 

 show themselves by swimming about. 

 They may then be taken from the water 

 on a lifter made from a small piece of wire 

 cloth, having infolded edges. 



Adult insects from the 

 water (beetles and water bugs) 

 may be killed in a cyanide 

 bottle and pinned like other 

 insects; but the immature stages are better pre- 

 served in vials of alcohol. 



Specimens from the cyanide bottle when dead 

 and beyond resuscitation, may be kept in paper 

 envelopes. These are "made on the job" from 

 rectangles of paper (say, post-card size) by 

 first folding the sheet diagonally across the 

 middle and then folding the ends over the 

 sides beyond which they project, and then cross folding the 

 two acute angles. Large, free-winged specimens, like butter- 

 flies and dragonflies, should be placed singly in these 



Fig. 62. — A sieve net. 



Fig. 63.— -A lifter. 



