]8 DIRECTIONS FOR COLLECTING INSECTS 



crayfish are found in all stages of growth during spring 

 and summer. An aquarium to rear and study the forms of 

 life found in the pond, is very profitable as well as inter- 

 esting. 



III. Mounting. — As soon as caught the specimens 

 should be put in the cyanide bottle and allowed to remain 

 until they are dead. They should then be taken out of the 

 cyanide bottle and put in a box which contains some cotton. 

 When the collector comes home, the specimens should be 

 removed and mounted. 



The butterflies, grasshoppers and bees should have the 

 insect pin thrust through the thorax, leaving one fourth to 

 one third of the pin above the specimen. 



They may then be placed in the spreading boards, the 

 wings stretched forward as in flight, and fastened down 

 with strips of paper or cloth pinned at the ends. In this 

 position they should remain until thoroughly dry, the length 

 of time necessary varying from three to ten days. 



The beetles should be mounted by thrusting the pin 

 through the right wing cover near the prothorax ; while all 

 other insects, as bugs, flies and dragon flies, by thrusting 

 the pin through the thorax. 



The specimens may then be placed in a cigar box, or an 

 insect box, which should be neatly lined with white paper, 

 and should contain cork at the bottom, either in sheets or in 

 pieces about one inch square. 



When the box is full, two or three moth balls should be 

 placed in it to keep out the insects that infest collections. 



IV. Naming. — After the specimens are properly mount- 

 ed, they should be named and labeled. The label may con- 

 sist of a number on a piece of white paper through which 



