30 COMMON BRITISH INSECTS. 



Most Beetles and, in fact, nearly all that are taken 

 in the sweep-net will pass through the tube ; but 

 the large Ground Beetles, some of the Water Beetles 

 and chafers, and one or two others, require to have 

 the large cork removed. 



On returning home, the entomologist should take 

 out the cork from the laurel-bottle, and empty the 

 insects into some boiling water, as some of the species 

 have the strongest objection to die, and, after they 

 have been apparently killed, have a habit of reviving 

 in a manner that is rather startling to the young 

 entomologist. It is no uncommon thing for an insect- 

 hunter to capture a number of Beetles, set them, put 

 them away in the * setting-box,' and then, after a week 

 or so, to find three or four of them kicking about and 

 doing their best to escape. Some of the Geodephaga 

 have been known to drag the pin from the board, 

 and, though still impaled, to devour their fellow- 

 sufferers. 



Ordinary Beetles can be taken by hand, but for 

 the very small species the forceps is used. This 

 instrument should be of good length. The regular 

 dealers offer for sale a brass forceps about two inches 

 in length. This is nearly useless. Get the forceps of 

 steel, at least four inches long, and made with a curve. 

 The curved forceps is just as useful as the straight 

 instrument for picking up a Beetle from the ground, 

 while it can be inserted into crevices which the straight 

 forceps could not enter. 



* Setting ' Beetles is not a difficult matter. For 

 moderately-sized Beetles the following plan answers 



