416 LIFE STORIES OFAUSTRALIAN INSECTS. 



young student, we have found that cigar boxes will 

 answer the purpose temporarily, and good work can 

 be done. 



The larvas of insects are usually preserved in 

 spirits, or formalin in small tubes or even bottles. 

 Junket tubes can be used for this purpose, although 

 sets of varying sizes can be purchased. 



In some instances the soft contents of the bodies 

 of caterpillars are removed so that only the skin 

 remains. This is inflated, then dried in an oven, and 

 finally set out in an ordinary setting box. The cigar 

 boxes already referred to might be utilised to good 

 purpose for setting out the whole life history of one 

 particular insect. Take for instance the vine moth, 

 or emperor gum moth; such life history box would 

 show the eggs, larva (in tubes), pupa and perfect 

 insects. A record of the various happenings might 

 be written on the inside of the lid. Children should 

 be encouraged to work out and set up as many of 

 these life histories as possible. 



A few other items might be mentioned for a col- 

 lector's outfit; among these are a good lens and a 

 pair of forceps. To the naked eye only a part of 

 tlie Avonders of nature is revealed. 



On an excursion a few small tins, boxes, bottles 

 and even envelopes might be carried. Last of all 

 Avc miglit mention that a bag made of canvas contain- 

 ing several pockets to hold the various articles will 

 be found most valuable. Such a bag should be car- 

 ried by means of a shoulder-strap, and thus the 

 collector is left with both hands free. 



