Beetles 



197 



until the foolish things drop into the trap prepared 

 for them. 



Some naturalists carry a bottle of alcohol with 

 a cork which has a hole in it, and in this hole a tin 

 funnel is thrust (Fig. 170). They use this novel 

 collecting bottle for those beetles which have the 



ANT-LION ak'PI>fALL 



tumbling habit, especially those which infest mush- 

 rooms and toadstools. A likely nmshroom or toad- 

 stool is carefully plucked, then carefully held over 

 the top of the funnel; when all is ready, the col- 

 lector fillips with his finger the toadstool, the jar 

 frightens the beetle and the hapless insect lets go 

 and drops, but instead of falling on the ground. 



