24 INTRODUCTION. 



is to be used especially for moths, butterflies, bees,, 

 wasps and similar insects, but should not be used for 

 worms and caterpillars, which are more successfully 

 killed and preserved in alcohol. 



A pair of straight, medium sized, forceps are use- 

 ful in collecting small insects. A supply of ordinary 

 commercial alcohol, and of various sizes, (2, 3 and 

 4 drachm) of short, homeopathic vials will be neces- 

 sary if soft-bodied caterpillars, spiders, thousand- 

 legged worms, etc., are collected. Empty morphine 

 bottles are very convenient. An ordinary game bag 

 is an excellent thing to carry the bottles, forceps and 

 other ' traps ' in, while out collecting. 



For rearing insects, to study their transformations 

 and habits, breeding cages of various kinds are needed. 

 Almost any box may be used for this purpose, cover- 

 ing it in part with gauze, and placing on the bottom 

 an inch or two of moist earth, to prevent the drying 

 of the atmosphere. Ordinary jelly tumblers are 

 very useful for rearing small leaf-eating caterpillars, 

 and " bell glasses " or glass shades are quite handy. 

 The cages should be examined daily, the food fre- 

 quently renewed and the conditions which the' insect 

 would have in its natural habitat, should be supplied 

 as far as possible. 



PRESERVING THE SPECIMENS. 



The first requisite for preserving insects, is a sup- 

 ply of entomological pins, which are longer, and 

 usually more slender than ordinary pins, answering. 



