1 88 NOTEBOOKS AND COLLECTIONS 



examine ants' nests, and the trunks of trees 

 where there is running sap. 



When Summer gives place to Autumn, 

 toadstools and fungi must receive attention, 

 and you will hunt amongst dead leaves, and 

 under the bark of decaying trees. Even in 

 Winter there is work to be done. Tufts of 

 dry grass and moss may be cut during open 

 weather, and shaken over a sheet of newspaper. 

 Many specimens may be also procured by 

 turning over the bottom layer when a stack 

 of hay or corn is taken down. There are 

 beetles there as well as rats. 



Beetles may be killed with benzine, as 

 already explained, or by plunging them into 

 perfectly boiling water. The latter method 

 sounds cruel, but is not so, because death 

 is absolutely instantaneous. When killed, 

 beetles may be either ' pinned ' or * carded.' 



In the first method, a pin is passed through 

 the right-hand wing case, so as to project 

 half an inch beyond the body. The pin point 

 is then inserted in the groove or hole of the 

 setting-board, the legs and antennas are drawn 

 into position with a bent needle, and the whole 

 is secured by means of crossed pins till dry. 



