12 



of their wings ; others find 

 greater interest in beetles ; still 

 others prefer the study of groups 

 which are not so beautiful to 

 the ordinary observer. Insects 

 of special harm or use, for any 

 reason, are always interesting 



Fig. 8. The Bdj^ and the Insect. 



The great majority of the moths must be 

 caught at night for they rest during the day 

 time. Most of them are readily attracted to 

 lights, and may be secured by devices 

 such as trap lanterns. Many insects are also 

 attracted readily by sweets, such as sugar or 

 molasses, and if a sweet solution is brushed 



on the bark of trees 



moths frequently 



gather at such trees 



alter dark and are 



easily captured. 



The following arti- 

 cles are needful for 



collecting: Cyanide 



bottles, one or more ; 



insect pins; cigar 



boxes or insect cases ; 



spreading boards, dif- 



ferentsizes; date and localitylabels; larvae bottles 

 The cyanide bottle is needed for killing insects before they can be 

 pinned. (Fig. 9.) This bottle may be made as follows by any druggist : 

 Place two or three lumps of cyanide of potassium, of the size of beans, in 

 a wide mouthed bottle, pour insufficient water to cover the lumps, and 

 add enough plaster of paris to take up the water. If the bottle is left 

 uncorked for a short time, the plaster will rapidly set and harden. Care 

 should be taken not to inhale the poisonous fumes which come from this 

 bottle, nor to leave the cork out for any length of time, for the cyanide 

 would soon be lost through the escape of the fumes. It is often desirable 

 to place a circle of thick blotting paper on the surface of the plaster to 

 absorb any moisture which may form. 



2 



3 S 



Z 



Fig. 10. 1, 3, .5, Insect Pins. 

 2. German Steel Pin. 



Fig. 9. The Poison Bottle. 



