166 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING INSECTS. 



Bkimming over the surface of the water. There are also a few kinds 

 to be obtained from the banks of streams in the sand and among the 

 stones, under the bark of decayed trees^ &c. 



All the remaining insects of this order may be found on trees and 

 plants, some living upon the leaves and others upon the trunk and 

 stems ; they may be captured by beating into an umbrella or sweep- 

 ing with a net. Grape-vines will be found specially productive. 

 Their time of appearance is during the warm weather, from the begin- 

 ning of summer to the end of autumn. 



NEUROPTERA. 



Dragon Flies, Ephemerce or May Flies, Lace-ivinged Flies, Ant 

 Lions, White Ants, Caddis-worm Flies , {Pliryganidce,) Scorpion Flies, 

 &c. — Dragon Flies inhabit the water in their first stages, and the 

 perfect insect will be found most numerous in the vicinity of pools, 

 marshes, and watery places. They are found only during the warm 

 weather of spring and summer. The best method of collecting them 

 is to station yourself close to the bushes, sticks, &c., upon which 

 they settle, and wait till they alight, when the net may be thrown over 

 them. A little practice, however, will enable you to capture them 

 upon the wing, and by this means you will secure many rare species 

 which could not be otherwise obtained. These insects had better not 

 be placed in alcohol, as it will soon destroy their colors, and render 

 them valueless ; the best method yet discovered is to have little paper 

 bags adapted to the size of the insects, into which they may be slipped 

 after closing their wings against each other, and having wetted their 

 bodies all over with alcohol by means of a camel's hair pencil, which, 

 together with a small vial containing the alcohol, may be carried in 

 the pocket. 



The Agrionidce, sometimes called Darning-needles, must be treated 

 differently ; it will not do to place tliem in papers ; they must be 

 pierced through with a pin and then stuck into the hat, a box, or 

 something the collector must carry for the purpose. They are usually 

 very abundant in meadows, near small brooks, ditches, &c., settling 

 upon bushes and projecting objects. 



EphemercB are generally best collected during the evening. The 

 young of these and the Caddis-worm flies inhabit the water, and near 

 it the imago will be found, sometimes in immense flocks, each one 

 making a gyratory motion and flying with prodigious swiftness, 

 usually around some adjacent tree. They must be collected with the 

 net and pinned at once. 



Lace-winged Flies are to be found upon trees, plants, &c., and, with 

 the Scorpion Flies, may be beaten into the umbrella or swept into the 

 net. Ail the remaining insects of this order, together with these two 

 kinds of flies, must be pinned at once, and not placed in bags or 

 alcohol. 



Ant Lions will be found flying about near the margins of woods and 

 in sandy places, near fences, &c. They are distinguished from the 

 Dragon flies by the greater length of their antenna?, which always 



