ZOOLOGY: DESCRIPTIVE AND 

 PRACTICAL. 



PART II. PRACTICAL. 



CHAPTER I. 

 COLLECTING INSECTS. 



Apparatus. i. Killing Bottle. Get a wide-mouthed bottle, 

 two or three inches wide and five or six inches high, with a good, 

 sound cork which fits well ; half a pint of plaster of Paris ; and 

 a lump of cyanide of potassium, about an inch square and half 

 an inch thick, though the equivalent of this in smaller pieces serves 

 as well or even better. In handling the cyanide of potassium 

 great care must be observed, for it is a violent poison ; not only 

 is it a stomach poison and a blood poison, but even its fumes 

 are poisonous. It is much safer to handle it with forceps, or, if 

 these are not at hand, pick it up with a piece of paper. Lay the 

 pieces of cyanide of potassium in the bottom of the bottle, and 

 pour in just enough water to cover them ; then sift in plaster of 

 Paris till the water is all taken up. The bottle should be left 

 uncorked for a few hours ; during this time it should be set away 

 where it can harm no one, for the poisonous fumes will escape. 

 If any loose plaster of Paris remains, empty it out ; cork the bottle 

 tightly. It should be labeled " poison " and kept out of reach 

 of children. Such a bottle is usually called a " cyanide bottle." 



Insects may also be killed by chloroform, by putting a few 

 drops into a bottle with the insect. This method is desirable for 



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