PRESERVATION OF INSECTS. 



373 



short, and slender. The French instrument is farther 

 useful for seizing venomous or dangerous insects. 

 In other cases the fingers alone are often sufficient, 

 and for minute beetles a wetted finger. 



a, French beetle-forceps ; and 6, Pliers. 



In order to get at beetles and larvae which feed 

 under the bark, or in the wood of trees, and also 

 under ground, the instrument which we have found 

 most convenient is a very strong clasp-knife : one 

 which has a saw-blade, a hook, a file, and other in- 

 struments in the same handle, is preferable ; but 

 most of the London collectors use what is called a 

 digger, and first, if we mistake not, described by 

 Mr Samouelle, in his Compendium. It is made of 

 steel, of from twelve to eighteen inches long, forked 

 at the extremity, and fixed into a wooden handle. 



I 



Digger. 



In addition to this, we recommend a long slip of 

 very thin and narrow whalebone, which may be in- 

 voL. XII. 32 



