. COLLECTING INSECTS. 23 



ring 12 or 13 inches in diameter, leaving the ends 

 projecting at right angles to the circle, and welding 

 them together so as to form a spur three or four 

 inches long. Fasten this spur into the end of a 

 broomstick, or any other convenient handle three or 

 four feet long. Then sew over this wire circle a 

 strip of strong muslin, an inch or two wide, and to 

 this sew a bag of mosquito netting, swiss muslin, or 

 some similar fabric, about three feet deep. For col- 

 lecting insects in ponds, a shallower net is needed, 

 and the cloth used should be of stronger material. 



After the insects are caught some way of killing 

 them quickly, and without injury, is needed. For 

 this purpose most entomologists use what is called 

 the cyanide bottle. To make this, obtain almost any 

 wide-mouthed glass bottle with a tight fitting cork : 

 place on the bottom two or three lumps of cyanide 

 of potassium, the size of a hickory nut, cover these 

 with plaster of Paris, and, finally, add sufficient wa- 

 ter to moisten the plaster and make it set. After it 

 is hard pour off the surplus water if there is any, 

 and let the bottle become thoroughly dry before in- 

 serting the cork. This cyanide of potassium is poi- 

 sonous, and of course must be handled carefully. If 

 desired, the bottles may fie prepared at drug stores, 

 at small cost. After the plaster is set there is prac- 

 tically no danger, unless the fumes of the bottle be 

 directly inhaled, for which there is no excuse. Keep 

 the bottle closed except when putting in an insect. 

 The cyanide fumes, rising through the porous plas- 

 ter, will kill it almost instantly. This cyanide bottle 



