140 NATURE STUDY REVIEW [8 :4— April, 1912 



to begin collecting. Collecting will usually be better if there is 

 an abundance of water plants growing in the edge of the water. 

 If these places exist under natural conditions he will find aquatic 

 insects in all situations from stagnant pools to rapidly running 

 streams. 



The collecting of water insects can begin as early as the 

 first warm springs days and can continue all through the Spring, 

 Summer, and even late into November. Water insects appear 

 with surprising quickness when the ice disappears from the water 

 and collecting continues good from that time on. Herein is an- 

 other advantage for the study of aquatic insects since it can be 

 followed at almost any time during nine months of the year. 



FIELD STUDIES. 



It cannot be too strongly impressed on the mind of the pupil 

 that much valuable and interesting information can be gained 

 by the careful and patient observation of water insects in their 

 native haunts. Sit quietly on the bank of some stream and 

 note what happens in this insect community. A pair of field or 

 opera glasses are useful in watching the behavior of the surface 

 forms. Note as fully as possible all of the conditions which make 

 up this native haunt and record in a note book. This record 

 can take some such form as the following : 



1. Name of insect (if not known, use some temporary 



name) . 



2. Place in the native haunt (surface, under surface, bot- 



tom, etc.). 



3. Date. 



4. Weather (clear, cloudy, temperature, etc.). 



5. Water (clear, muddy, stagnant, running, etc.). 



6. Abundance. 



7. Methods of locomotion. 



8. Feeding habits. 



9. Enemies. 



10. Other observations. 



The records of these observations will aid in rearing these 

 insects, since it is necessary to reproduce in the aquarium, as 

 nearly as possible, the conditions of the native haunt. 



GENER.AL METHODS OF COELECTION. 



The habits and haunts of aquatic insects are often so dif- 

 ferent that- it is necessary that the use of the collecting apparatus 

 b^ suited to each species and this means that there must be spe- 



