Collections during Vacation* 



187 



where you go, as Oliver Wendell Holmes has said, na- 

 ture never loses a place to hide things, even to the joint of 

 a tavern bedstead. 



I. Insects. 



Such varied and beautiful things cannot fail to be most 

 interesting objects of study. 



(a) How to Catch The easiest method of catching is to 

 fix a net out of thin cloth, like tarletan or mosquito-net. 

 Sew in form of a conical bag, and hem. Bend a piece of 



Fro. 49. 



common stovepipe wire and run into the hem. Fasten the 

 ends of the wire together by twisting, and insert into the end 

 a stick about three feet long. With a little practice one can 

 become very expert in capturing insects on the wing with 

 this simple net (Fig. 490). 



(b) How to Kill. The cruel method of transfixing with 

 a pin cannot be too strongly condemned. There are two 

 ways which are easy and quick, and not in the least cruel. 

 Put a drop of benzine or naphtha on the insect and he is 

 killed instantly. The benzine does not injure the most deli- 



