APPENDIX. 



345 



some is to cover the cyanide with sawdust, excelsior, cotton, crumpled paper 

 or any material which will absorb the moisture and hold the cyanide in place, 

 and cover with a piece of cardboard cut so as to fit tight in the bottle. To 

 insure its holding in position, some fasten the edges with shellac or collodion 

 or some other material not affected with moisture. 



The use of the sweep net is the most prolific method of collecting. The 

 method of sweeping is simply to swing the net back and forth so that tne open 

 mouth will strike across the tops of the grass or other plants. The end of the 

 net quickly fills with rubbish in which a large assortment of insects will be 

 found. They are usually not sorted out until after the insects are killed. 



Flowers of many kinds furnish a rich source for specimens. One can use a 

 net or catch many by hand or with a cyanide bottle. Under boards and 

 stones and under the bark of logs and stumps are the richest places for hand 

 collecting. Collecting in the water is often very prolific but requires a 

 special shallow net, preferably of mirecloth. Electric lights or any kind of 

 light is attractive to many insects that fly on warm evenings, and bait of 

 molasses mixed with beer or other alcoholic liquor is also very attractive to 

 night flying insects and is often made use of by insect collectors.. 



REARING INSECTS. 





Figure 358. Paper box and lamp chimney cage. 

 The following out of the life history of insects requires t'le use of a cage. 

 Cages may be made of all manner of shapes and sizes. Jelly glasses and chim- 

 neys of lamps or lanterns are very largely used. Some prefer paper boxes 

 because the air never deposits moisture on the sides. It is distinctly best 

 to keep the insects separate or with very few together and to use new or steril- 



