Suggestions for the Moth Collector 



Nature-study has to do with living forms rather than dead ones. But 

 collections of moths and butterflies are of use in interesting the pupils in the 

 life histories of the insects and therefore may be a legitimate means to a 

 wider knowledge of living forms. 



The Killing Bottle 

 It is desirable to kill the insects in a humane way so that they will not suffer 

 by the process; it is also desirable that they should not revive after they are 

 pinned, both for their own sakes as well as for the sake of the feelings of the 

 collector. The best way to secure painless and sure death for the insects is 

 by the means of a "cyanide bottle." 



Materials Needed for a Killing Bottle 



1. A bottle with a wide mouth; a morphine bottle or a small olive or 

 pickle bottle will do. Even a glass fruit-can holding a pint will answer very 

 well, although taking off and putting on the cover consumes more time than is 

 desirable. A fruit can is very desirable for the large moths. 



2. A cork that will fit the bottle tightly and is long enough to handle easily. 



3. A few cents' worth of cyanide of potassium. 



4. A few cent's worth of plaster of Paris. 



These latter materials may be procured from any drug store. 



Place the lump of cyanide of potassium in the bottle and pour in enough 

 water to cover it. Add immediately enough plaster of Paris to soak up all 

 the water; leave the bottle open in a shady place for an hour and then wipe 

 the dry plaster of Paris from its sides, put in the cork, and it is ready for use 

 The plaster of Paris forms a porous cement which, while it holds the cyanide 

 fast in the bottom, also allows the fumes of the poison to escape and fill the 

 bottle. It should be labeled "poison." If kept corked when not in use a 

 killing bottle made like this will last a whole season. 



The first rule in using the killing bottle is this: Do not kiU any more 

 insects than you need for your collection. The second rule is : do not breathe 

 thefumesof the bottle; for they smell badly and are not good for you. When 

 you uncork the bottle to put an insect in it hold it away from your face and 

 cork it up again as quickly as possible. 



Some insects may be caught from flowers, etc., directly into the bottle 

 by holding it uncorked beneath them for a moment; the fumes of the poison 

 soon overcome them and they drop into the bottle. In taking insects from the 

 net take the bottle in the right hand and the cork in the left ; insert the bottle 

 into the net and place the mouth of it over an insect crawling on the inside 

 of the net, then put the cork on the outside of the net into the mouth of the 

 bottle, net and all, for a moment until the insect falls into the bottom of the 

 bottle; then remove the cork and take the rest of the imprisoned insects in 

 the same way. Insects should be left in the bottle at least an hour, and may 

 be left in there over night without injury to the specimens. 



Insect Pins 

 After the insects are caught they should be pinned so that they may be 

 arranged in the collection in an orderly manner. Common pins are not good 



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