CAPTURIXG AXD PRESERVI^fG I.VSECTS. 9 



American republics. Hesperus, the <Totl of the West, acts a part iu Bar- 

 low's poem the ColumltiaJ, and /tcspcrlan has a place in pjiglish dic- 

 tionaries with the definition — '■'■Situated at the tvest ; an inhahitant of a 

 icestern country.^'' 



CAPTURING, KILLING AND PRESERVING INSECTS. 



Frequent inquiries have been made of me as to the best mode of 

 collecting, killing and preserving insects, and I have thought it well to 

 give a few directions on the subject in the Record and Journal. 



Beetles, that is, hard shelled insects ( Coleoptera, in scientific lan- 

 guage) should be put in small bottles, various sizes of which, the col- 

 lector should have with him. The bottles should have a piece of wrap- 

 ped paper in them to which the insects may cling, and to prevent them 

 jostling too rudely against each other, and thus breaking off their legs 

 and antennae. In each vial there should be dropped a little ether, which 

 in a short time stupefies or kills the beetles. The vials should be tightly 

 corked, so as to prevent their liability of coming out in the pocket. 

 This will answer for the larger beetles, but for smaller species, the vial 

 should have a quill passing through the cork, and going a considerable 

 way below it, and through this quill the insects must be dropped. It, 

 of course, must be closed by a small stopper. 



For capturing butterflies, different instruments must 

 be employed. First, the forceps with handles like 

 those of scissors, with holes for the linger and thumb 

 and two circular or octagonal frames of iron or strong 

 Avood, on which bobbinet is stretched and sewed to 

 the frame. This instrument is used also for taking 

 flies (Dlptcra) and wasps, bees, &c., ( Hi/menoptera.) 

 It may also be employed for catching dragon-flies 

 (JYcuroptcra.) As soon as insects of these orders are 

 taken by the forceps, a pin must be stuck through the 

 thorax before the forceps are opened. The insects are then taken out, 

 and pinned in the inside of your luit until you get home. 



Another instrument for taking butterflies 

 is a net, made of gauze or bobbinet and allach- 

 ed to a stick four or five feet long. The net 

 itself should be 16 inches in diameter at tlie 

 top and about 24 long. This is preferred by 

 some and many species are so wild (hat they 

 cannot be got to close enough to be taken by 



