212 THE YICTOBIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXIII. 



Directions foe Collecting and Mounting Beetles, Etc. 



Materials req_idred for Field. Work. — i. An umbrella, into 



which insects are shaken from bushes. This can also be used 



when pulling bark off eucalyptus trees. Hold umbrella under 



bark, and beetles will fall into it when bark is being pulled off. 



2. A net, with 6-foot handle, for butterflies, moths, and beetles 

 that are flying, or up on high branches. 3. Spirits of wine for 

 killing the beetles. (N.B. — The insects should be left for a day 

 to dry before pinning.) Where the insect is highly coloured, 

 formalin should be used, or, better still, cyanide of potassium. 

 (N.B. — Great care should be used in using the latter so as not 

 to inhale the fumes.) 4. Camel-hair brush, for transferring very 

 small beetles to the bottle of spirits of wine. 5. For taking 

 night-flying insects, a sheet of white cloth and a lantern are 

 used ; the insects flying towards the light remain on the sheet. 



Where to look for Beetles. — i. Dead bark of gum, wattle, and 

 other trees. 2. Underneath stones and logs (ground beetles). 



3. Flowers of tea-tree, prickly box (Bursaria), carrot, gum- 

 trees, Kunzea, &c. 4. Among dead leaves. (N.B. — Shake leaves 

 over umbrella.) 5. In burrows beside cow droppings (burying 

 bettles). 6. In the dSbris left by floods (mostly ground beetles). 

 7. Under seaweed on beach (very small beetles). 8. Inside 

 fungus growths attached to trees, logs, &c. (fungi beetles). 9. 

 Under bodies of dead animals (carrion beetles). 10. In old 

 deserted birds' nests (bird-nest beetles). 



Pinning and Labelling. — -i. For pinning use entomological pins 

 (No. 5). These do not rust, and are much better than ordinary 

 pins. 2. Pin beetles on right wing case, near prothorax. 3. 

 Prepare small, neat label of cardboard (to be fixed on the pin. 



(The dot denotes the position of pin' in right wing- case.) 

 underneath the specimen). The label should give — [a) name; [b) 

 where found; [c) date.; and (d) locality. (N.B. — Very small 

 insects should not be transfixed on the pin, but should be fixed 

 with gum-mastic, seccotine, or istic upon a small, neat piece of 

 cardboard, through the end of which the pin can be thrust. 



LECTURE ON WILD LIFE AT HOME. 



By C. L. Barrett, Hon. Sec. Bird Observers' Club. 



In the evening Mr. C. L. Barrett delivered a lecture 

 entitled '■ Wild Life at Home," which was illustrated 

 with an interesting series of lantern slides from photo- 

 graphs taken direct from nature by Messrs. C. P. Kinane, 

 E. B. Nicholls, and the lecturer. 



Mr. Barrett, it was soon seen, was an observer of wild 

 life, and not a mere anatomist. The study of living crea- 

 tures was most fascinating, and of great utility from an 



