Instructions for collecting Insects. 217 



sizes, so as not to be obliged to search long for that, which is suitable 

 for the insect caught. It will be readily seen that to pin a small fly- 

 one must not use so large a pin as would be necessary for pinning a 

 horned beetle. It is degrading an insect to fasten it with too large a 

 pin. 



Manner of taking the Insects. 



The coleopterous insects not being poisonous at all, one may take 

 them with the hand without incurring any risk. Some large species, 

 however, are armed with strong mandibles, by means of which they 

 might pinch the one, that takes them. But if he has the precaution 

 to seize them with two fingers by both sides of the body near the 

 origin of the elytra, he has really nothing to fear. The coleopters, 

 for the most part, fly little ; it is very difficult to take them on the 

 wing, though they may be taken, at other times, without the aid of 

 the net or rackets. Indeed, few species require the use of these 

 instruments. 



The orthopterous tribe, like the preceding, are not poisonous. 

 One may, therefore, touch them with impunity. But as they fly 

 with great facility, and are almost all endowed with the faculty of 

 leaping to great distances, it is necessary to make use of the net or 

 rackets to take them. The grasshoppers, crickets and the like are 

 so well known, that it is needless for me to say more respecting 

 them. 



The neuropters, (that is, those with nerved wings,) fly still better 

 than the preceding ; and they are destitute of all poison. If one 

 cannot come at them with the rackets, they may be taken with the 

 net when they are at rest. 



The hymenopters, (bees, wasps and the like,) are, for the most 

 part, poisonous. It is from the extremity of their abdomen that they 

 dart their deleterious sting, that causes deep wounds, almost always 

 followed by inflammation, sharp pain, and sometimes with an ague fit. 

 Their abdomen is attached to the lower extremity of the corselet 

 by a longer or shorter pedicel in form of a thread. It is so mova- 

 ble that they can throw round their extremity to all parts of the bo- 

 dy. One must, therefore, be on his guard against taking them with 

 his fingers. 



The species of hymenopters, whose abdomen, little moveable, is 

 united to the corselet in its whole size, are not poisonous. These 

 are easily known. 



