and Laboratory Methods. 2375 



for this neglect, perhaps, is the lack on the part of entomologists of the neces- 

 sary knowledge concerning suitable methods for their preparation and preserva- 

 tion for the cabinet. Their comparatively large size, juicy bodies when alive 

 and just killed, brittleness of limbs and antennae when dried, their proneness to 

 fading after death, and their liability to the attacks of mould and museum pests, 

 all seem to conspire in a greater or less degree to their neglect. Hence the 

 average entomological student chooses to spend his time in collecting and study- 

 ing the various other groups which present fewer difficulties that must be over- 

 come in the formation of a collection. 



Since a number of these drawbacks named above are more imaginary than 

 real, the writer has thought it worth while to direct the reader's attention to the 

 facts as they are. The large size of most orthopterous insects, instead of being 

 a hindrance to their collection, should rather be considered an advantage, 

 because of aiding in their discovery. Still, if we wish to find small examples of 

 this order we can do so. There are several hundreds of distinct species of such 

 smaller Orthoptera already known to science. The larger and more showy 

 ones have naturally come to light first, while the smaller and less brightly col- 

 ored forms either remain entirely unknown, or have come to the notice of the 

 very few specialists only who have dared to venture into the almost forsaken 

 field. 



Placing these insects in alcohol and other liquid preservatives has in part 

 overcome the objection to their large, soft, juicy bodies that so quickly shrivel and 

 become discolored when treated by the ordinary methods followed for specimens 

 of other orders. But this method of preservation quickly effaces the many bright 

 colors common to such large numbers of them, and even changes minute struc- 

 tural characteristics, so as to render the insects difficult of recognition save by 

 specialists. It also adds to the amount of space required for their reception, as 

 well as a separation of many forms from the general series in the collection. 

 Preserving these insects in spirits also frequently renders it very difficult to 

 transport them on trans-country expeditions in new regions where no roadways 

 occur, both on account of their bulkiness and weight in this condition, and 

 because of the impossibility of always securing the necessary spirits when away 

 from civilization and its influences. True, specimens collected in this manner 

 are always in more or less perfect condition for dissection when this is desired, 

 and for such purposes, when practicable, it is well to make such provision. 

 Again, the objection to injury by Dennestes, J?ithrenus, Trogoderma and other 

 museum pests is overcome by spirit-preserved specimens. Still, this latter fault 

 can be remedied in other ways, as will be shown later. 



" Stuffing." — Within the past few years most of the objections that had so 

 frequently been made to the gathering and preservation of orthopterous insects, 

 have practically been removed by the adoption of dift'erent and better methods 

 of preparing and preserving these creatures. A few of our specialists only 

 seem to have profited from the discovery that these insects can be handled 

 "taxidermically," i. e., be stuffed in a similar manner as we would adopt for 

 birds, reptiles and mammals, and thereby preserved in collections equally well 

 with other forms. The following directions for collecting, cleaning and 



