7022 Insects. 



I venture strongly to recommend that they remain in the laurel-bottle 

 at least two days. 



On taking the bugs out of the bottles there is a choice of two 

 ways of preparing them for the cabinet, pinning or carding ; mine are 

 ancient specimens, and when they were caught I followed the 

 ancient practice of pinning, but younger and better entomologists 

 than myself invariably card their bugs. In case of pinning, the pin 

 should be passed through the very centre of the scutellum, not on one 

 side, as in beetles. Whether pinned or carded, the legs and antennae 

 should be neatly displayed, and two or three individuals should 

 be set with their wings wide open, so as to exhibit their characters, 

 and to expose the dorsal surface of the abdomen, which is often gaily 

 coloured : two or three individuals also should be laid on their backs 

 to exhibit the colour and form of the under side. These instructions 

 will appear trifling to experts in the Science, but all beginners will 

 be glad of any attempt to direct their proceedings aright. 



The water walkers, water scorpions and water boatmen require dif- 

 ferent treatment. A water-net must be provided which is constructed 

 on this plan : an iron hoop, ten inches in diameter, is screwed to the 

 end of a strong but light bamboo-cane, and on this hoop is fastened 

 a bag-net, which of course is ten inches across at the mouth, 

 and tapers gradually to the bottom a depth of eighteen or twenty 

 inches: this bag-net is made of cheese-cloth, a fabric that has two 

 excellent properties ; Jirst^ it is so strong that tearing is out of the 

 question ; and, secondly, it allows the water to pass through freely. 

 This implement may be used wherever there is water; in rivers, 

 canals, ponds or ditches ; especially at the sides where there are 

 weeds growing in the water ; for these weeds always abound with 

 insect life, and you will invariably be more puzzled with the multi- 

 tude of captures than disappointed by want of success. A great 

 number of beetles inhabit water; the carnivorous and the herbi- 

 vorous beetles have both a large aquatic section, and some of these 

 you will infallibly find in every haul. But I am now only talking of 

 Hemiptera. I always provide myself, when on these fishing excur- 

 sions, with two or more wide-mouthed vials half-full of whiskey ; and, 

 as soon as the water has strained off, I go down on hands and knees, 

 and pick out the insects, popping them, one by one, into the vial. 

 All the water Hemiptera are carnivorous, and desperately savage 

 when handled ; the water boatmen especially will instantly make a 

 dig at your fingers with their sharp beaks ; often have they made my 

 blood flow very freely. But you soon get into the way of avoiding 



