222 NATURE STUDY REVIEW [8 :6— Sept., 1912 



Stone Flies emerge in the winter and have been found trans- 

 forming on the edge of the ice. As stated above, mosquitoes have 

 been found in the larval stage in mid winter. 



Winter Collecting. 



There seems to be a false impression prevalent among be- 

 ginners to the effect that no success whatever attends winter col- 

 lecting, that most insects die off at the coming of winter and what 

 few may live through this season are so thoroughly entrenched 

 in their winter quarters that they are secure from the collector. 

 The above paragraph on the hibernation of the common water 

 insects shows that many pass the winter as adults or as larvae 

 and that their hiding places are not inaccessible. Any youth 

 who knows something about the winter hiding places of water 

 and who has the requisite ambition and energy will usually find 

 his collecting efforts rewarded. Of course, winter collecting is 

 never so easy and pleasant as summer collecting but nevertheless 

 it is possible and can be made profitable. It will require close 

 observation since at this season the insects are more or less torpid 

 and the immovable forms may escape the eye of the collector. 

 The following general instructions may be of service to the be- 

 ginner who desires to do winter collecting: 



(1). Turn over and examine carefully masses of leaves, 

 twigs, roots, drift, and other rubbish which occurs along shores 

 and banks. This kind of collecting can best be carried on when 

 there is no snow on the ground. 



(2). With a strong dip net make sweepings along the sur- 

 face of the bottom. Dragon Fly Larvae are often secured in 

 this way since some of them are frequently found moving slug- 

 gishly along the bottom even in mid winter. 



(3). Dig into the bottom with the dip net and bring up 

 loads of the mud and debris. Wash out each haul thoroughly 

 by scooping up tke clear water with the net and letting it drain 

 through thus facilitating the examination of the catch. After 

 this is done the mass remaining in the net must be examined with 

 considerable care since such forms as the Smaller Giant Water 

 Bug, Larger Giant Water Bug, Whirligig Beetles come up so 

 torpid and with so complete a coating of mud that they are often 

 almost indiscernible. 



(4). Dig into the protected banks, near or slightly above the 

 edge of the water and follow the instructions given in (3). 



Many of the insects collected in this way are in a very torpid 

 state; q,tbers (juite sluggish but show some movement when dis- 



