(J.J, [AUfjiist. 



I will, as briefly ns I can, describe my own 7iiethod of eaphu'ing and setting 

 Hymenoptera, and leave it for Hymenopterists to try both methods, and make known 

 their opinions which is the better. I capture my insects with a bag-net (when 

 I consider a net necessary, because I really capture three-fourths with my fingers) 

 made of the very finest white net that is manufactured, 22 meshes to the inch ; this 

 is only to be procured at a few of the best shops in London. When collecting, I 

 carry a good supply of the best block pill boxes of different sizes, packed in a flat 

 tin case that fits a satchel ; this prevents the boxes being crushed in travelling to my 

 hunting-ground ; on arriving there, I transfer the boxes to the righthand pocket of 

 my coat ; when I capture an insect in my net, I select a proper sized box, take off 

 the lid, and secure the insect in it against the side of the net ; then, with a little 

 manipulation, I put on the lid. The insect is now quite uninjured, with not a hair 

 on its body ruffled. Each capture I thus secure in a separate box ; these boxes I 

 put into the lefthand pocket of my coat ; and when I have filled a number, or have 

 taken some great I'arity, I put tliem back into the tin case ; if a i-arity, I fi'cquently 

 put the box in which I first secured it into one a size larger. Before starting on an 

 excixrsion, I examine all my boxes, to be sure that the lids fit closely ; if they do 

 not, a strip of paper pasted round the rims makes them secure. On arriving home, 

 I proceed to kill the insects ; I take first the largest boxes used and raise the lids on 

 one side, so as to leave a very narrow opening to admit the fumes of sulphur ; I then 

 pile the boxes one upon another in a pyramidal heap, and over the pile I place a 

 bell-shaped glass, usually six inches in diameter, but the size will vary according to 

 the number of boxes. I then take a little powdered sulphur on the end of a thin 

 piece of flat wood (a match in fact), light the suphur, and place it beneath the bell- 

 glass ; this process will sometimes require repeating once or twice, until the sulphur 

 will no longer burn beneath the glass ; it is then sufliciently charged. In this condition 

 I leave it for about half-an-hour ; I then empty the contents of the pile of boxes uito 

 two or three larger ones, recharge the bell-glass, under which I place the boxes of 

 insects, and leave them until the following morning ; the insects wiE then be in a 

 proper condition for setting. Every insect will be foimd to be in the most perfect 

 condition ; pubescent ones, such as humble-bees, have not a hair disturbed, and they 

 can be pinned without a chance of any liquid oozing out of the thorax and matting 

 the pubescence.* 



My method of setting and drying specimens is as follows :— For the latter pro- 

 cess I use a di-ying-cage with door and back covered with net (perforated zinc would 

 answer as well, if not better) ; the cage has several setting-boards resting upon slips 

 of wood, and corked on one side, the cork being half-an-inch thick, thus allowing 

 the insects to be pinned at a proper height. 



The setting process is very easy and simple : havijig run a pin through the 



thorax, slightly before the middle of its disc, I mount it on to the setting board, 



running the pin into the cork vmtil the under-side of the thorax very nearly touches 



the cork ; the next thing to be done is to arrange the legs in a natural position by 



• Sir Sydney Smith S.avinders has coimmmicated the following to me, which is, I think, an 

 improvement on my own method of piling up the boxes for the sulphuring process :— '* In using 

 "the bull-glass, I .always pack the pill lioxes within by reversing the ghi.ss, retaining them there 

 " by two slips of mill -board placed cross-wise, therein' keeping them remote from the lighted 

 " s\ilphur, whose fumes ascending until the glass is filled therewith, never necessitate a second 

 " application ; but all must depend upon enabling the sulphur to bimi freely at first. These fumos 

 "penetrate without partially opening the lid, as ^ suilf into any such boxes will readily 

 "manifest." — F. S. 



