538 ENTOMOLOGICAL INSTRUMENTS, &C. 
beetles, &c. a number of phials, with their rims ground 
down and the mouths well fitted with corks, must be pro- 
vided ; but for those you do not wish to keep separate, 
a wide-mouthed phial filled with spirits of wine, which 
soon kills them, is the best receptacle. I have found, 
when at a loss, a piece of elder, with the pith taken out 
to a sufficient depth at each end and each mouth stopped 
with a wooden plug, a useful insect box. As numerous 
insects inhabit the various species of Bolett, if you go 
where these are to be found, unless you are a very agile 
person and expert at climbing, a boy with a short light 
ladder will be no useless accompaniment. 
Something may be said in this place upon the dress 
with which the Entomologist should provide himself. I 
shall not recommend to you, in imitation of the insect- 
hunters in the vignette to Reaumur's second volume, to 
put on a bag-wig and a velvet court-dress; but the plain 
fustian jacket with side and other pockets used by En- 
glish sportsmen will very well suit your purpose ; only 
let the pockets be sufficiently ample: have also an inside 
one fixed on the left-hand side to receive your forceps. 
You may also have a bag like a shooter's, or an angler's 
basket, which may contain your nets till you want to use 
them. With all your implements about you, you will 
perhaps at first be stared and grinned at by the vulgar; 
but they will soon become reconciled to you, and regard 
you no more than your brethren of the angle and of the 
gun. Things that are unusual are too often esteemed 
ridiculous; and the philosopher whose object is to collect 
and study the wonderful works of his Creator, is often 
regarded by the ignorant plebeian as little short of a 
madman. 
