INTRODUCTION. 



The former work, prepared in 1892 under the direction of the late 

 Dr. C. V. Riley, served a most valuable purpose in showing beginners 

 the best methods of collecting and preserving insects. During the 

 years that have passed since its preparation many new methods have 

 been devised and studies conducted on entirely new lines. Therefore 

 it has been considered necessary to prepare an entirely new paper. 

 Many notes on methods of preparation of material have been culled 

 from the pages of the entomological journals, and several members of 

 the Bureau of Entomology have furnished items of value in their 

 special lines. 



Practically every entomologist of much experience has developed 

 methods especially suited to his favorite group of insects, and agree- 

 able to his temperament. One can not expect that his methods will 

 be adopted entirely by others. Therefore in the following pages sev- 

 eral methods are usually given for doing a thing, and other ways are 

 doubtless familiar to many collectors. As a general rule patience in 

 collecting, care in the handling, and uniformity in the preparation of 

 specimens will result in a good collection. And a good collection is 

 the first requirement and the greatest inducement to study any 

 group. 



Nathan Banks. 



