THE COLLECTION OF SPECIMENS. 



287 



Fig. 255. 



A small cyanide bottle, about one fourth the size' 

 of that described above, is very convenient for car- 

 rying in one's pocket constantly during the 

 collecting season. A very convenient pock- 

 et-bottle is represented half size by Fig. 

 255. 



Collecting Boxes. — Collectors of but- 

 terflies usually have a shallow tin box, lined 

 with pith or cork, into which specimens 

 can be pinned, and fitted with a strap by 

 means of which it can be slung over the 

 shoulder (Fig. 256). A cheap substitute for such a 

 box can be made by using a shallow cigar-box, lined 

 with cork and fitted with a strong cord. Make a 

 small hole in each end of the box, and through each 



hole put an end 

 of the cord and 

 tie a knot in it; 

 tack a piece of 

 sheet-cork to the 

 bottom of the box on the inside, and the box is ready 

 for use. If sheet-cork can not be obtained, the box 

 can be lined with the pith of corn-stalks, or slices 

 can be cut from cork stopples and tacked to the bot- 

 tom of the box. 



Folded Papers for Butterflies. — There is an- 

 other method of caring temporarily for specimens of 

 butterflies, which is used when it is not convenient to 

 pin them. The specimen is killed while it is yet in 

 the net by pinching the thorax, care being taken that 

 the wings are folded together above the back, so that 

 they shall not be rubbed. Then the specimen is 

 dropped into a triangular envelope made by folding 



Fig. 256. — A collecting box. 



