256 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
On Capturing, Killing and Setting Hymenoptera.—[The 
following recommendations and suggestions are by Mr. 
Frederick Smith, of the British Museum, and are published 
in the ‘Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine’ for August. I 
have, perhaps, captured, killed and set more British bees than 
any man living, and therefore am qualified to express an 
opinion on Mr. Smith’s method. Mr. Smith’s observations 
are elicited by a previous paper of Dr. Kriechbaumer’s, the 
advice given in which Mr. Smith by no means inclines to 
follow. After criticising somewhat severely the Doctor’s 
method, Mr. Smith proceeds as follows, and I bear most 
willing testimony to the value of his advice. It comes here 
very appropriately as a sequel to Mr. Fitch’s recommenda- 
tions in the case of gall-flies, which appeared in the July 
number of the ‘ Entomologist. —Edward Newman. | 
“Twill, as briefly as I can, describe my own method of 
capturing and setting Hymenoptera, and leave it for Hyme- 
nopterists to try both methods, and make known their 
opinions which is the better. I capture my insects with a 
bag-net (when I consider a net necessary, because I really 
capture three-fourths with my fingers) made of the very 
finest white net that is manufactured, twenty-two meshes to 
the inch: this is only to be procured at a few of the best 
shops in London. When collecting, I carry a good supply 
of the best block pill-boxes of different sizes, packed in a flat 
tin case that fits a satchel; this prevents the boxes being 
crushed in travelling to my hunting-ground. On arriving 
there I transfer the boxes to the right-hand pocket of my 
coat. When I capture an insect in my net I select a proper- 
sized box, take off the lid, and secure the insect in it against 
the side of the net; then, with a little manipulation, I put on 
the lid. The insect is now quite uninjured, with not a hair 
on its body ruffled. Each capture I thus secure in a separate 
box. These boxes I put into the left-hand pocket of my 
coat; and when | have filled a number, or have taken some 
great rarity, | put them back into the tin case; if a rarity, I 
frequently put the box in which I first secured it into one a 
size larger. Before starting on an excursion I examine all 
my boxes, to be sure that the lids fit closely ; if they do not, 
a strip of paper pasted round the rims makes them secure. 
On arriving home I proceed to kill the insects: I take first 
