io NEW ZEALAND ENTOMOLOGY. 



walking-stick. The same object may be attained by 

 spreading a newspaper, or sheet, under the trees and 

 then shaking them ; the beetles will fall on to the sheet, 

 and may then be captured. The only advantage of the 

 umbrella is that it can be more readily used in awkward 

 places, such as on steep hill sides. 



The dead bodies of birds and animals also contain 

 peculiar species ; they may be held over the umbrella and 

 shaken into it, when the inhabitants will fall out, and can 

 easily be obtained. Dead fish on the sea beach are often 

 very productive. Moss and fungi are unfailing resorts 

 of many of the smaller species of Coleoptera, and can be 

 examined in the winter when the entomologist is other- 

 wise idle. 



Beetles should always be brought home alive. The 

 small round tin boxes sold with Bryant and May's wax 

 matches will be found very serviceable for this purpose. 

 These boxes are far better for all kinds of collecting than 

 either pill- or chip-boxes, as they do not break when knocked 

 about. A separate box should always be given to a large 

 or rare species, but most of the smaller kinds will travel 

 quite safely in company, especially if a wisp of grass or a 

 leaf is put into the box to give them foothold. 



Beetles must be killed with boiling water, and left 

 immersed some hours before setting. They must be 

 pinned through either the right or left elytron, and each 

 collector must always keep to one side, as nothing looks 

 worse than to see some of the specimens pinned on the 

 right and others on the left side. When pinned the beetles 

 are set on a corked board, the legs, &c, being placed in a 

 natural position, and retained until dry by means of pins 

 and pieces of paper and card. The smaller species should 

 be mounted with transparent gum on a neat piece of card, 

 which can be pinned in the store-box or cabinet with 

 the others. The greatest care should be taken to set 



