Figure of Apparatus. 
HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH INSECTS. 
Written and Illustrated with Photographs by T. A. GERALD STRICKLAND, F.E.S. 
HERE are few things nowadays in which photography does not play a part. Is 
photography an Art? Some there are who , no matter! They say 
let them say! It is the scientific aspect that imterests us. Many. no doubt, who 
go in for entomology own a photographic kit of sorts and would like to illustrate 
their notes, etc., especially if they write for the various magazines. 
Some little time since I designed an apparatus for this work, and I am enabled, 
through the courtesy of the Editor of the “Amateur Photographer,” to give an illustration 
of the camera. 
First of all, and perhaps most important, it is not an expensive arrangement, as, 
in the event of the reader already possessing an outfit, the reversing-back, dark-slides 
and lens can be utilised without alteration. Lancaster, or any other maker, could 
make the necessary parts quite cheaply, for the woodwork may be pine, if well 
seasoned, and the bellows cloth. 
Now to describe the Figure: You will see that the apparatus consists of a 
baseboard of suitable length carrying a simple camera and a couple of glass plates 
( clear and 2 ground) in grooved upright frames which are fastened on to a small 
supplementary baseboard (8) that slides to and fro and clamps where desired; (6) 1s 
the focussing screen and reversing-back, which we are supposing to be borrowed from the 
ordinary kit; (4) is an archimedean screw for fine focussing, and the front frame of 
the camera (7) is also made to slide and clamp; (3) are lamps, which may be for 
incandescent gas, electric light or oil. If we are working by daylight, the lamps (3) 
are removed and mirrors, preferably on ball-and-socket joints, put in their places. 
To use this “direct enlarging apparatus” we proceed as follows: If the illuminant 
we purpose using is daylight, we place the camera, etc, on a strong rigid table 
facing the window—that is to say, the light falls behind the insect or what not. 
The insect, if unmounted, is fastened on the sheet of 
clear glass (1) in this way: a tiny bit of cork is stuck 
on the centre and the object pinned on that. The piece 
of cork must be sufficiently small not to show at the 
sides of the insect’s body in the ensuing photograph. A 
dipterous or other minute wing will often stick on the 
elass if the latter is first breathed on, so in this case the 
cork is unnecessary. 
Having got our “sitter” in position, we cover the ground 
elass (2) with a sheet of cardboard or other opaque substance. 
With the aid of the mirrors in the daytime, or lamps at night, 
we throw the light on to the specimen, focus, insert the dark- , ,,, rie 
9 2 fly's Face, showing Compound 
shde and expose. Just before the exposure 1s complete the Eyes and Antenne Pits. x 9. 
125 
