54 INSECTA 



The pin, except in the case of beetles, should be passed 

 through the thorax of the insect, one-third of ttie pin extending 

 above the body. On the pin, about half-waj^ between the in- 

 sect and the cork, place a paper label giving date and locality 

 of capture, and the name of the insect or the principle which it 

 illustrates. Beetles should have the pin thrust through the 

 right wing cover near the middle of the body. 



Make out a ''box-scheme" showing what each of your insects 

 represents, remembering that the same specimen may belong to 

 several of the above-mentioned groups. Write this scheme 

 in ink on white paper and paste it on the inside of the lid before 

 handing in your collection. 



Collecting. 



1. Equipment. 

 (1) Killing Bottle or Cyanid Jar. 



(a) Preparation. Put about a teaspoonful of potassium 



cyanid, broken into bits, into a wide-mouthed 

 bottle or a pint fruit-jar. Do not handle the 

 cyanid with the fingers, nor breathe its fumes, as it 

 is extremely poisonous. Pour in just enough 

 water to cover the cyanid, then carefully pour 

 in enough plaster-of-Paris to take up the water. 

 Set the bottle, uncorked, on the outside window 

 ledge over night. Carefully drain off any surplus 

 water, leave it exposed to the air for a short time, 

 and cover the plaster-of-Paris with a piece of 

 cotton batting or a disk of paper cut to fit the 

 jar. Cover and keep tightly closed when not in 

 use. Label the jar 'Toison." 



(b) Use. When an insect is caught in the net, uncover 



the cyanid jar and with one hand carefully slip 

 it into the net and place the mouth of the jar 

 over the insect, then, with the other hand, place 

 the lid of the jar on the outside of the net directly 

 under the mouth of the jar and quickly turn the 

 jar right side up, keeping the Ud over the mouth 

 until the insect is slightly stupified, then slip the 

 lid on the jar inside the net. 

 Many times an insect at rest on stem or flower 



