194 INSTEUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING INSECTS. 



pin sliould always be exposed to permit it to take a good hold; and if 

 the abdomen be large and heavy it should be supported by cross pins : 

 that is, two or more fixed crosswise over this portion of the body, with 

 a pellet of cotton fixed on the pin beneath and drawn under the abdo- 

 men, so that it will rest on it. If the specimens are placed very high 

 on the pins, and raised considerably above the surface, the pin should 

 be first passed through a little cotton, and the specimen permitted to 

 rest on it, or the whole surface may be covered first with a layer of 

 cotton. A large number of specimens may be secured in the box by 

 pinning one over half the other, like shingles on a roof. 



When the box is filled with specimens, the front should be secured 

 by a little hook and socket ; and it should be then wrapped in several 

 thicknesses of cotton wool, and the whole enclosed in a piece of cotton 

 sheeting made secure with a needle and thread. The object of wrapping 

 the box well in cotton is to prevent the specimens being broken or 

 injured by any jar or concussion the box may receive during transmis- 

 sion from one place to another. Bottles containing specimens of larvae, 

 &c., in alcohol^ should be enveloped in cotton and enclosed in a 

 paper box. 



It may happen, sometimes, that those who desire to collect may be 

 in such a position that none of the expedients heretofore mentioned 

 may be available. Expeditions to the new countries of the west, or 

 persons stationed at military outposts and forts in the Indian territo- 

 ries, may be unable to obtain pins, or the agents heretofore mentioned 

 as being used for destroying the life of Lepidoptera, and will be, of 

 course, unable to make preparations in the ordinary manner. As 

 specimens from the Territories would be exceedingly interesting, in 

 order to anticipate the condition of those at military outposts and sta- 

 tions who would be willing to advance the cause of natural history by 

 collecting, I will suggest how it can be accomplished without any of 

 the conveniences heretofore mentioned. 



If the spirits of ammonia cannot be obtained, insects may be killed 

 by the fumes of one or two sulphur matches, afier having been con- 

 fined under a glass, or by means of tobacco smoke, or by pinching the 

 thorax, as heretofore described. The wings should be then turned 

 upward, so as to be perpendicular to the back or erect, together with 

 the antennae or feelers situated on the head, and placed in this posi- 

 tion between a few folds of porous paper, and submitted to light pressure 

 until they have become partially dried, and the wings will retain their 

 position. They should then be placed on a square piece of paper, 

 which should be folded in a triangular form, and the open ends of the 

 sides turned over, so as to admit of as little motion to the included 

 specimen as possible. These papers, properly marked as to localities, 

 may afterwards be packed between layers of cotton in paper boxes, or 

 in any manner most convenient to the collector, provided they are not 

 submitted to pressure. 



We can imagine no more pleasant and healthful employment during 

 lei'sure and unoccupied hours for the men who are stationed at the 

 military outposts of the Indian territories than collecting these objects 

 of natural history; and we would respectfully call the attention of 

 their ofiicers, many of whom have shown so much intelligence and 



