FIELD WORK ON INSECTS. 55 



spread wings; some collectors prefer to spread them 

 horizontally. Nail a narrow, thin strip on these two 

 sloping sides so as to leave an open space between. After 

 you have these pieces together, turn the board under 

 side upward, and, with small tacks, fasten a strip of 

 corrugated paper, or strips of corn pith all along this 

 opening between the thin board strips. This makes a 

 groove in which the insect's body is to rest while the wings 



FIG. 23. Drying board. 



are drying and the wing joints hardening. If the class is 

 large, it will be best to make several drying boards, some 

 of them with the groove wide to accommodate large in- 

 sects, and some others for the smaller insects. (Fig. 23.) 

 A collection box would best be made by a cabinet 

 maker, and may belong to the class or the school, or to the 

 individual student. It should be made with joints as 

 tight as possible, and with a glass cover. Several patterns 

 will suggest themselves, but the best ones are the boxes 

 that will close most nearly air-tight. Smaller insects 

 will be almost sure to lay their eggs on the insects that 

 you have carefully dried and identified, and when their 

 eggs hatch out, the greedy grubs will eat up the whole lot, 

 beginning with your finest specimen usually. Naphtha 



