i8o 



NATURE-STUDY 



FIG. 40. Insect-Net. 



ground spiders, and beetles. In the attic we find more 

 spiders, on the rafters the homes of the mud-wasps and the 

 paper-wasps. In the clothes-press, perhaps, there are moths. 



Under the carpets are the carpet- 

 beetles. Flies and mosquitoes are 

 hard to keep out of the house. 

 Ants invade the pantry. All these 

 creatures come into the house in 

 spite of the housewife's care and 

 cleanliness. But if she is not so 

 cleanly there may be cockroaches, 

 fleas, and other more undesirable 

 and less mentionable insects. 

 So there should be no difficulty in finding and collect- 

 ing insects for nature-study. For this purpose the pupils 

 should be provided with nets. The older pupils can make 

 their own. An insect-net should be made of some light porous 

 cloth, such as muslin, cheesecloth, or mosquito bar, made in 

 the form of>a sac about ten inches in diameter and about 

 twice as long, fastened to a wire loop which is securely at- 

 tached to a stick about four or five feet long. 

 The dip-net may be smaller and should have 

 a finei mesh. It is emptied by turning it in- 

 side out. Aquatic insects, to be kept alive, 

 must be carried in water in pails or bottles. 

 Cans, paper boxes, and bottles serve to bring 

 back alive land insects for the school-room 



TO I 



Oooc: 



FIG. 41. Cyanide 

 Bottle. 



cages. 



But if the insects are to be mounted, they are immediately 

 killed by placing them in the cyanide bottle. Each pupil in 

 the higher grades should have one of these. Take a wide- 



