THE INSECT COLLECTION 



165 



may be desired with longer handles. A large and strong 

 clasp knife or, better, a sheath knife, may well complete 

 the outfit for ordinary general collecting. 



Experience, again, must teach where the insects are to 

 be found. It should be borne in mind that there are few 

 situations where some sort of insect life does not exist. 

 Special equipment for collecting aquatic forms is required. 

 This can always be improvised and no collection should be 



^ 



FIG. 118. Design for Insect-net Frame. 



1, Heavy spring- wire ring; 2, detail of end of handle; a, groove into which 

 the wire at a, on figure of ring fits; b, clamp; c, holes into which ends of the 

 wire at c on the ring fit. 



considered representative which does not include the in- 

 sect life of the near-by waters. 



Electric lights are- quite a prolific source of specimens 

 for the collector, but they teach nothing of the habits of 

 the insects except that they are attracted to lights and 

 are night flyers. 



106. Mounting Specimens. The equipment for mount- 

 ing and preserving the specimens may, like the collectors 

 outfit, be either simple or elaborate. For adult specimens 

 pins are usually considered necessary, and a place to keep 

 the pinned specimens is no less so. Insect pins must be 



