PRESERVING AND STUDYING INSECTS 355 



of dissecting, but two or three scalpels of various shapes will 

 be found useful. The short, curved, sickle-shaped scalpel will be 

 used in general dissection more than any other. 



Needles. These are really of more importance than the scalpel. 

 They may be made by forcing the eye of an ordinary needle into 

 a small stick about the size of a lead pencil. Much more satisfac- 

 tory needle handles may be secured of the supply companies, with 

 arrangements for removing and exchanging the needle. One should 

 be provided with three of four of these needle holders and a num- 

 ber of needles bent into various shapes, hooks of different 

 sizes, and curved and straight needles. 



Brushes. An assortment of camel's-hair brushes will be found 

 useful on the dissecting table. 



Pins. For holding the dissected specimens in position ordinary 

 insect pins will be found most convenient. The larger sizes, 

 Nos. 4, 6, and 8, are well adapted for minute dissection. A few 

 large pins with black glass heads will also be found useful for 

 heavier work. 



Microscopes and lenses. Every collector should be provided with 

 at least one good pocket lens. For most work a half -inch lens, 

 procurable of any microscope supply company, will be found suf- 

 ficient. For very small insects, however, a one-fourth-inch lens 

 will be found much better. 



Dissecting microscopes are almost an essential if careful work in 

 insect anatomy is to be done. Various types of these are sold by 

 all optical companies. Compound microscopes are essential for very 

 minute work, but for studying the general anatomy of insects they 

 can be more easily dispensed with than the dissecting microscope. 



Dissecting trays. Dissecting trays, as found on the market, con- 

 sist of shallow tin or porcelain trays ranging in size from four by five 

 to twelve by fifteen inches, with a depth of from one to three inches. 

 The bottoms of these trays are usually covered with paraffin or bees- 

 wax, so that the specimens may be pinned out under water. Home- 

 made trays may be constructed by obtaining tin pans of the proper 

 size, and having two or three short pieces of wire soldered to the 

 bottom. The ends of the wire should be left projecting, so that 

 when hot paraffin or beeswax is poured into the pan, the wire will 

 hold it firmly in place and prevent it from floating when in use. 



