IX 



ON MAKING A COLLECTION 



Nothing gives greater help and pleasure to the 

 student of any group of insects, whether butterflies, 

 beetles, or bees, than to make a collection of speci- 

 mens of the different species. To preserve the form 

 and colour of such insects it is only necessary to dry 

 them and to keep them as much as possible in dark- 

 ness. The British humble-bees make a very pretty 

 little collection. It is not needful to buy an expen- 

 sive cabinet to hold them. A 14" x 10" store box, 

 sold by dealers in entomological apparatus for about 

 four shillings, is quite large enough to take about a 

 dozen specimens of each species. If room is wanted 

 for more and it is a great advantage to have a 

 good series of each sex another box may be added. 

 Also it is not necessary to set the specimens, that 

 is, to spread out the wings and legs on a setting 

 board, leaving them there until they dry ; though it 

 certainly improves the appearance of the collection, 

 and conveys a better idea of the characters of each 

 species. 



Humble-bees are easily caught in an ordinary 



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