92 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.X 



green-houses, which often furnish interesting exotic species and 

 are good places for winter collecting. A considerable number of 

 species can be collected out of doors at any time during the 



Fig. I. — Onychiurus cocklei Fig. 2. — Sminthurus hortensis 



Folsom. Fitch. 



winter, though they may be found more easily during a thaw. 

 Certain species are found on the snow, sometimes in immense 

 numbers. 



The essentials for collecting Collembola are glass vials or tubes 

 and small brushes ; camel's hair brushes or cheap paint brushes 

 serving the purpose. Homeopathic vials may be used but are 

 objectionable on account of neck and lip. The straight vials 

 known as shell vials are better, but I prefer a simple glass tube 

 10 mm. in diameter and 55 mm. in length, with rounded bottom; 

 this diameter enabling one to examine the contents with a half- 

 inch lens. Such a tube is made to order for 75 cents per gross. 



Some collectors obtain their specimens by touching them with 

 a brush wet with chloroform or some other killing agent; or pick 

 them up on a brush moistened with glycerine ; but the specimens 

 thus collected are not in the best condition for study. I always 

 collect specimens alive and kill them at home by pouring on them 

 strong alcohol heated in a test tube to a temperature a little below 

 the boiling point. If killed with a hot fluid the specimens die in 

 a relaxed condition with the appendages extended in a manner 

 favorable for study and without shrinkage or other distortion. 



