538 ENTOMOLOGICAL INSTRUMENTS, &C. 



beetles, &c. a number of phials, with their rims ground 

 down and the mouths well fitted with corks, must be pro- 

 vided ; but for those you do not wish to keep separate, 

 a wide- mouthed phial filled with spirits of wine, which 

 soon kills them, is the best receptacle. I have found, 

 when at a loss, a piece of elder, with the pith taken out 

 to a sufficient depth at each end and each mouth stopped 

 with a wooden plug, a useful insect box. As numerous 

 insects inhabit the various species of Boleti, if you go 

 where these are to be found, unless you are a very agile 

 person and expert at climbing, a boy with a short light 

 ladder will be no useless accompaniment. 



Something may be said in this place upon the dress 

 with which the Entomologist should provide himself. I 

 shall not recommend to you, in imitation of the insect- 

 hunters in the vignette to Reaumur's second volume, to 

 put on a bag-wig and a velvet court-dress; but the plain 

 fustian jacket with side and other pockets used by En- 

 glish sportsmen will very well suit your purpose ; only 

 let the pockets be sufficiently ample : have also an inside 

 one fixed on the left-hand side to receive your forceps. 

 You may also have a bag like a shooter's, or an angler's 

 basket, which may contain yournets till you want to use 

 them. With all your implements about you, you will 

 perhaps at first be stared and grinned at by the vulgar ; 

 but they will soon become reconciled to you, and regard 

 you no more than your brethren of the angle and of the 

 gun. Things that are unusual are too often esteemed 

 ridiculous; and the philosopher whose object is to collect 

 and study the wonderful works of his CREATOR, is often 

 regarded by the ignorant plebeian as little short of a 

 madman. 



